738 Retrospective Criticism, 



causes which induce several species of birds to visit one dis- 

 trict in great numbers, whilst another district, apparently 

 quite as suitable to them, is entirely destitute of them. I am, 

 Sir, yours, &c. — T, G, Clitheroe^ Lancashire, June 30. 1 832. 

 The Creeper (Qerthia familidris L.), p. 489., is certainly 

 resident in this country all the year round ; but, according to 

 Temminck, it is migratory in some parts of Europe. — M, P. 

 /)^c. 8. 1831. 



j; Materials composing the Nest of the common Brown Wren 

 (Anorthura communis Rennie). — Mr. Rennie, in his edition of 

 Montagu's Orfiithological Dictionary (p. 574.), and also in his 

 Architecture of Birds, after copying what I have said in your 

 Magazine (Vol. III. p. 568.), in reply to what Mr. Jennings 

 says [see our Vol. I. p. 344.] on the subject of wrens' nests 

 being lined with feathers, says, " There can be no doubt, I 

 apprehend, of those supposed cock-nests being nothing more 

 than the unfinished structures of paired birds ; otherwise the 

 story would require the support of very strong evidence to 

 render it credible." Mr. Rennie afterwards goes on to say, 

 that in two instances he had seen nests which had about half 

 a dozen feathers interwoven into the lining with hair ; and 

 Mr. Jennings, if I recollect aright, as I have not the work to 

 refer to at present, says that wrens do not line their nests with 

 any thing but moss ; and he thinks Montagu is in error when 

 he says that they are lined with feathers. Along with this, I 

 send you three or four wrens' nests, which, you will perceive, 

 have abundance of feathers in the inside ; and although the 

 wrens will occasionally use cows' hair along with the feathers, 

 yet I am persuaded, from the localities in which I have met 

 with them, that cows' hair has been used because feathers 

 were not to be found : but when the nests are in the vicinity 

 of a rookery, farm-yard, or any other locality where feathers 

 are abundant, the wrens will use them exclusively. What the 

 " strong evidence " must be, to convince Mr. Rennie about 

 cock-nests, I do not know ; but I know of a dozen of these nests 

 at the present moment, several of which have remained in 

 statu quo [in the state in which they were left] since the middle 

 of April. Other nests, found about the same time, have now 

 young ones in them. I do not doubt that these nests are 

 occasionally used for breeding in : for instance, if the first 

 nest of ihe wren be taken, or if it breed a second time, it will 

 occasionally take possession of a cock-nest ; as I have some- 

 times found, that, after remaining in the same unfinished state 

 for several weeks, they have been fitted up with a lining, and 

 bred in. Mr. Rennie asserts that Montagu is incorrect when 

 he asserts that the wren always adapts its materials to its 



