n8 BIRDS IN LEGEND 



which once prevailed in southern France, in Keltic parts 

 of England, in Wales, and also in Ireland, where it per- 

 sisted until abolished by the British Government about the 

 middle of the 19th century. Accounts of the practices, 

 songs, etc., connected with it may be found in antiquarian 

 histories, for example the following from Miles's book of 

 Christmas customs: 



In the Isle of Man very early on Christmas morning, when 

 the church-bells had rung out midnight, servants went out to 

 hunt the wren. They killed the bird, fastened it to the top of 

 a long pole; and carried it in procession to every house, chant- 

 ing these words: 



We hunted the wren for Robin the Bobbin, 

 We hunted the wren for Jack of the Can, 



We hunted the wren for Robin the Bobbin, 

 We hunted the wren for everyone. 



At each house they sought to collect money. At last, when all 

 had been visited, they laid the wren on a bier, carried it to 

 the church-yard, and buried it with the utmost solemnity, sing- 

 ing Manx dirges. 



It is evident that this is a very ancient practice, and 

 embodies in its utterly degenerate state a religious idea 

 or symbolism, the meaning of which has been forgotten. 

 Why, for example, should the feathers of the murdered 

 Manx wrens be preserved, one by one, among the coast 

 families, as a talisman preserving the possessor from ship- 

 wreck, unless some religious sanction was involved, and 

 this may be connected with St. Stephen, the first Christian 

 martyr, who was stoned to death ; for this savage custom 

 belonged to St. Stephen's Day, December 26, as well as to 

 Christmas, or locally in place of Christmas. But why 

 the wren, rather than some other bird? The matter is 



