The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-01-20
INSTINCT OF ANIMALS.

| The following facts respecting Wren
| (Motacila Domestica, Linn were com
municated by Mr.. Julius Deming, a respect
able merchant of Litchfeld, Conn.
In the spring of 1890 or 1871, the sister
| in-law of this gentleman observed wren
attack the martens in box prepared fol
them, and affixed TO her fathers house
After a short time they were driven from
| it, and the wren took possession, and began
to construct her nest. Unwilling to lose
the martens and iniure the wren, the lady
made use of this expedient. She placed a
wooden box (of about the size of gallon
/ bottle) with movable cover, in which was
small hole, in the adjoining bee-house'
! Within an hour after this had been done,
( the wren deserted the marten box, for that
which was intended for her, where she built
her nest, layed her eggs, Matched and rear
/ ed her young.
! While the wren was laying, during the
time of incubation, and after the birth OF
the young, the box in which the nest was
| formed was often removed into the house,
whittier the parent bird always followed,
without exhibiting any particular marks OF
fear; at least, whatever apprehensions she
might have had originally, was wholly sub
dued by the frequent repetition Of this prac-
tice.
When the young were pretty we'll grown.
1t was very interesting to observe the moth
er instruct them in her particular song. As
this process was thought curious and sim
gular, it attracted the attention of others
beside the lady first mentioned; and all
the circumstances were often observed by
her friends, as we'll as herself, at their leis-
ure, in her fathers house.
The mother bird fixed herself on one side
OF the opening in the box, directly before
the young. She began by singing over
her whole song (which is well known to
consist of considerable number of notes
very distinctly. One of the young attempt
ed to initiate her. After proceeding through
few notes, his voice broke, and he lost the
tune. The mother Immediately recon-
menced where he had failed, and went very
distinctly through with the remainder. The
young bird made a second attempt, COM
mencing where he had ceased before, and
continued the song as long as he was able
and when he lost the note again, the moth
er began anew, where he stopped, and CON-
pleted it. Then he resumed the tune, and
finished it. This done, the mother sang
over the whole series of notes second
time, with great precision; and a second OF
the young also attempted to follow her.
With him she pursued the same course as
with the first, and so with the third and
fourth. 1t sometimes happened that the
young would lose the tune, three, four, or
more times in the same attempts /; in which
case the mother uniformly began where
they ceased, and sang the remaining notes
and when each had completed his trial, he
repeated the whole strain.
Sometimes two of the young commenced
together. The mother observed the same
conduct towards them as when one sang
alone. This lesson was repeated day after
day, and several times in day, till all the
young had perfectly mastered it, and were
iuIl grown; and, as has already been re-
marked, it was observed as often and by as
many persons as knew of the fact and had
curiosity, and by the lady above mention
ed, very frequently, SO that no doubt can
be entertained of the fidelity of the nara
ton.