296 BIRDS OP NOEFOLK. 



is, however, pretty sure to detect them, in a quiet ramble 

 througli our woods or plantations, and many a time I 

 have watched their active search for food, whilst waiting 

 in a "drive" for a chance shot during the shooting 

 season. The following very interesting note, on the 

 nesting habits of this species, was communicated to 

 me by the Rev. C. Norris, of Briston, from personal 

 observations : — " In May, 1863 (he writes), I found 

 no less than four nests of the tree-creeper, buUt 

 on the outside of a summer-house in Stody planta- 

 tion. This building, formed of lath and plaster, was 

 supported on the outside by split fir-poles, and one of 

 these being warped by the sun, left a sufficient aperture 

 for these little creatures to enter and nest in. Two of 

 the four nests were disturbed, and the same birds 

 probably erected the two others, but they were all 

 within two yards of each other. The nests in. this 

 instance were composed of the young top shoots or 

 catkins of the sweet chestnut and dead shoots of the 

 larch, lined with moss and a few feathers. The birds 

 were seen by myself, and one of them on the nest." 

 A very common resort, also, of the tree-creeper in the 

 breeding season, as I learn from Mr. Alfred Newton, is 

 the timber-yard on large estates, where the nests are 

 invariably built amongst the '^ slabs" or split fir-poles. 

 A very beautiful variety, perfectly white, was taken 

 from a nest in this county, in June, 1854, together with 

 another young one in the usual plumage, but they are 

 rarely subject to any variation in colour. 



TROGLODYTES VULGARIS (Fleming). 



COMMON WREN. 



The little Wren is not only associated with the 

 robin in our nursery literature, but shares with it 



