lo^ THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



becomes even more sparingly distributed in Scotland, 

 although certainly breeding as far north as Sutherland- 

 shire. In Ireland it is rare, but probably breeds in 

 Wicklow and some other counties on th^ eastern sea- 

 board. 



Breeding habits : The favourite breeding-grounds 

 and summer haunts of the Wood Wren are large woods 

 and coppices, plantations of tall mixed trees with plenty 

 of undergrowth, game coverts, and, less frequently, 

 orchards. It is a late migrant, not reaching the British 

 Islands before the middle or end of April. It is im- 

 possible to say whether this species pairs for life ; the 

 sexes do not appear to migrate in company. I have 

 observed a tendency to frequent a certain spot year by 

 year. The nest is invariably placed on the ground, 

 often wedged in a little hollow bare of herbage. A bank 

 in the woods well clothed with rank vegetation, or a 

 more open spot in the coppices and plantations amongst 

 heath and bilberry wires, are the favourite situations. 

 The nest, in shape similar to that of the Willow Wren 

 or the Chififchafif, semi-domed, is made principally of 

 dry grass, with scraps of moss and a few dead leaves, 

 and lined sparingly with horsehair. The Wood Wren 

 is another close sitter. The nest is cunningly concealed, 

 and usually found as the bird hurriedly fl^es oiT. When 

 disturbed, the actions of the parents are very similar 

 to those of the Willow Wren, and the nest may usually 

 be discovered with due patience. The Wood Wren is 

 not at all social during the nesting season. The 

 monotonous double call-note {dec-7ir), and the strange 

 shivering song are ready means of identifying this 

 species. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Wood Wren are from five to seven in 

 number. They arc pure white in ground colour, thickly 



