BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



129 



Common Mrcn. 





The Common Wren {^Troglodytes parvulus^ Koch) is a 

 widely and generally distributed resident species in the 

 British Islands. It is also a common resident in most 

 parts of temperate Europe, and occurs in Northern Africa 

 and Western Asia. The adult has the general colour 

 above, dark reddish-brown, barred with dark brown; eye- 

 stripe, whitish; rump, rufous-brown; wings and tail, rufous- 

 brown; under parts, buffish-white; abdomen and flanks, 

 tinged with brownish, and transversely barred with brown ; 

 irides, brown; bill, brown; legs and feet, pale brown. 

 Length, about four inches. The female resembles the 

 male. The young are similar in ground colour to the 

 female, but the plumage is less barred. 



