EUROPEAN WREN. 17 



dible over the eye, the cheeks are brown, obscurely spotted with 

 paler. The fore-neck and breast pale greyish-brown ; the sides 

 and abdomen barred with brownish- white and dusky ; the lower 

 tail-coverts brownish-red, barred with dusky, and having the 

 tip white. 



Length to end of tail 4j inches ; extent of wings 6^ ; bill 

 along the ridge |i, along the edge of lower mandible l'^ ; wing 

 from flexure IjJ ; tail 1^ ; tarsus j^''^ ; first toe y^^, its claw 

 i\ ; second toe i^g, its claw j% ; third toe |^^, its claw l^g ; 

 fourth toe i*^, its claw /g. 



Female. — The female is considerably smaller, and less 

 brightly coloured, with more brown on the lower parts, but 

 otherwise similar to the male. 



Length to end of tail 4 inches ; extent of wings 6^ ; bill 

 along the ridge j%. 



Variatioxs. — Very considerable differences occur in the size 

 of individuals, and some have the bill much longer and more 

 curved than others, insomuch that I was at one time impressed 

 with the idea of our having two species of Wren ; but more 

 extended observation and comparison have convinced me that 

 these differences, and others seen in the tints of the plumage, 

 are neither so constant nor so decided as to afford specific char- 

 acters. When the feathers are worn in summer, the small 

 white spots on the wings become obliterated. Old individuals 

 have the upper parts of a redder tint, and the lower with more 

 white. 



Habits. — Excepting the Kinglets, the Creeper, the Chiff*- 

 chaff", and the smaller Tits, the Wren is the least of our native 

 birds. Its flight is effected by a rapid and continuous motion 

 of the wings, and therefore is not undulated, but direct ; nor is 

 it sustained, for the bird merely flits from one bush to another, 

 or from stone to stone. It is most frequently met with along 

 stone-walls, among fragments of rocks, in thickets of whins, 

 and by hedges, where it attracts notice by the liveliness of its 

 motions, and frequently by its loud chirring noise. When 



VOL. III. c 



C 



