CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 1 43 



resident throughout the year ; its numbers are, 

 however, much augmented by immigrants which 

 visit us in the autumn. The Wren, perhaps, is not 

 quite so confiding as the Robin, in that it is more 

 independent of help in the winter months. I mean 

 one does not often see it coming to the window to 

 be fed Hke other Httle birds. According to some 

 authorities it is the reverse of being tame and 

 unsuspicious, though I can't say that that has been 

 my experience. As regards its favourite habitat, it 

 seems to adapt itself to almost any sort of place. If 

 it has a partiality, I think it would be for old wood 

 piles and stacks of branches that have been stored 

 for firing purposes in the winter, rotten stumps of 

 trees, and moss-covered walls and banks ; its 

 diminutive size enabling it to penetrate and explore 

 places where larger birds could not enter. It never 

 seems to fail much in obtaining the sort of food it is 

 after — such as woodlice, earwigs, and the like. Mr. 

 W. H. Hudson regards the Wren's songr as the 

 bird's greatest charm. He says : "It is unlike that 

 of any other British melodist — a loud, bright lyric, 

 the fine clear high-pitched notes and trills issuing in 

 a continuous rapid stream from beginning to end." 



The nest is very large, indeed, for the size of the 

 bird, and is constructed of moss, dead leaves, or 

 dried ferns, and is generally made to harmonize 

 with its general surroundings, so as not to attract 

 the eye ; the entrance is at the top ; inside lining, 

 hair and feathers ; eggs — six to eight, colour, white, 

 spotted with red. The nesting-sites are numerous ; 



