18 ANORTHURA TROGLODYTES. 



standing, it keeps its tail nearly erect, jerks its whole body- 

 smartly ; then hops about with great alacrity, using its wings 

 at the same time, and continually enunciating its rapid chit. 

 Although it seldom ascends a tree directly, like the Creeper, 

 it may often be seen climbing sidewise to some height, and on 

 fences or bushes it usually makes its way to the top by hopping 

 from one spot to another. If usually pleased with a low station, 

 it yet sometimes ascends even to the higher branches of very 

 tall trees, and may occasionally be seen there in company with 

 Kinglets and Tits. In spring and summer, the male has a very 

 pleasing, full, rich, and mellow song, which it repeats at in- 

 tervals ; and even in autumn, and on fine days in winter, it 

 may occasionally be heard hurrying over its ditty, the loudness 

 and clearness of wdiich, as proceeding from so diminutive a 

 creature, is apt to strike one with surprise, even after it has 

 long been familiar to him. 



During the breeding season, Wrens keep in pairs, often in 

 unfrequented parts, such as bushy dells, mossy woods, the 

 banks of streams, and stony places overgrown with brambles, 

 sloes, and other shrubs ; but towards the end of autumn they 

 approach the habitations of man, and although never decidedly 

 gregarious, sometimes a^ipear in small straggling parties. They 

 are not properly speaking shy, as they seem to conceive them- 

 selves secure at the distance of twenty or thirty yards, but, on 

 the approach of a person, conceal themselves in holes between 

 stones, or among the roots or bushes. In liveliness and ac- 

 tivity, the Wren rivals the Kinglets, Tits, and Creepers, as in- 

 deed might be expected from its diminutive size, birds as well 

 as quadrupeds being generally more slow in their motions the 

 larger their bulk. 



Small as the Wren is, it seems to receive as little injury from 

 severe weather as any of the larger birds, although after long- 

 continued frosts, it is said that individuals have often been 

 found to have perished. For myself, I have never met with a 

 dead Wren at all, and should conceive such an occurrence as 

 extremely rare, as the birds would in all probability die in their 

 holes. In the midst of winter I have met with it in the val- 

 leys of the Grampians, among the wild woods, where no other 



