WREN 105 



of an inch longer; the plumage, however, is far more 

 brilliant, the sides and feathers beneath the wing, as 

 well as the under tail-coverts, being of a bright chestnut 

 or reddish-brown, whereas in the female these parts are 

 much paler, indeed, many shades lighter." 



Captain Boyd Alexander, in his Notes on the Birds of 

 Kent {Zoologist, 1896), remarks : " Compared with former 

 years, the Nuthatches bred this season very sparingly. 

 On the other hand, in the Tunbridge Wells district a 

 wonderful increase took place in their numbers. After 

 the autumn moult the plumage of the male Nuthatch 

 is remarkably handsome, the breast being a most deli- 

 cate apricot, while the slate-blue of the upper parts is 

 very intense in colouring. Just now these birds are 

 extremely restless ; most of their time is taken up in 

 putting by a winter store of food, and this especially 

 consists of hazel-nuts, which are plentiful this year." 



Family TROGLODYTID^. 



Genus TROGLODYTES, Yieillot. 



WEEN. 



Troglodytes iKirndus^ Koch. Hyst. d. haier. 

 Zool, p. IGl (1816). 



This very active and interesting little bird is abundant 

 throughout the county of Kent. In early spring and 

 winter its voice may be heard, except during a short 

 period of its nesting season. It has been heard singing 

 on December 11, near Maidstone, and in the neighbour- 

 hood of Orlestone on fine, sunny days in mid-winter. 

 Its habit of keeping to the old overgrown hedges and 



