EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 217 



The eggs of the Wren vary from four to six, and even eight or 

 nine in number. Clutches of still larger numbers are on record, 

 but are very exceptional. They are pure white in ground-colour 

 when blown, with a few red spots usually congregated round the 

 large end of the egg in a zone. Occasionally they are entirely 

 without markings; but sometimes the spots are evenly distributed 

 over the egg. Inform they differ considerably, some being almost 

 round, others more elongated. They vary in length from 0'75 to 

 0'65 inch, and in breadth from 055 to 0'48 inch. 



THE ST. KILDA WEEN. 

 ( Troglody tes hirtensis . ) * 



Plate 54, Fig. 3. 



This is a large race of the Common Wren found in St. Kilda. 



Mr. Dixon, who discovered this island race, says that the nest 

 is similar to that of the Common Wren, and is plentifully lined 

 with feathers : it is placed in the crevice of a wall or under an 

 overhanging bank. 



The eggs are similar to those of the Common Wren, but are 

 larger, and with the reddish spots somewhat more boldly marked. 

 The length is about 0"75 inch, and the breadth about 0'6 inch. 



THE COMMON CREEPER. 



(Certhia familiaris.) 

 Plate 54, Fig. 5. 



The Creeper is generally, though locally, distributed throughout 

 the wooded districts of Great Britain and Ireland. In western 

 Europe it appears to range to about 63° N. lat.; in Eastern 

 Europe, to about lat. 60°. In Siberia it has not been recorded 

 further north than lat. 57°. 



The breeding-season of the Creeper commences in April, and 

 its nesting place is somewhat varied. A site is usually chosen on 

 some decaying tree, where the thick bark has peeled away from 

 the trunk for some distance and left a hollow space behind in 

 which the bird can build its nest. The crevice behind the bark 

 which the bird usually selects is often too large for the nest itself, 

 * Anorthura hirtensis — Sharpe, Handb., I., p. 317. 



