The Wren.-] OF ORKNEY. 71 



which well may be called a miracle, how it can rear such a 

 number of young without missing one ; but this is done by the 

 power and providence of that Being, who implanted the first 

 seeds of knowledge into the minds of all animals, and who 

 takes care not only of the greatest, but of the most minute 

 parts of the creation. 



The wren is a little neat bird, carries its tail almost erect, 

 seems not to be able for long flights, as I have heard of them 

 run down and caught. The whole upper part of the body is a 

 dark-brown,the wings and tail neatly barred with darker colours. 



Species 3. — The Golden-Crested Wren. 



IVill. Oin. 227. Rati St/n. Ai). 79. Motacilla Regulus, Lin Sys. 338. Brit. 



Zool. 267. 



This most beautiful species is pretty frequent with us ; 

 continues all the year round. I saw one of them run down 

 in Avinter. It appears not to have a strong wing ; takes but 

 small flights. In very hard winters it creeps into holes of 

 houses and quarries, where I have found them ; particularly 

 in breaking up several layers of a fine figured slate-quarry in 

 Corn-holm of Copinsha, I found a golden-crested wren at the 

 farthest end of a chink, and where it was confined by the 

 faUing in of the rubbish. 



Its fine crest distinguishes it from all others of our small 

 birds, as well as its bulk, which scarcely equals the wren ; 



