PASSERES. ( 102 ) TROGLODYTIDM. 



THE WREN. 



KITTY WREN, COMMON WREN. 



Troglodytes parvulus. 



Beside the Redbreast's note, one other strain — 

 One summer strain, in wintry days is heard. 

 Amid the leafless thorn the merry Wren, 

 When icicles hang dripping from the roof. 

 Pipes her perennial lay ; even when the Hakes 

 Broad as her pinions fall, she lightly /lies 

 Athwart the shoiuer, and sings upon the wing, 



Grahame. 



This well-known and cheery little bird is almost as great a 

 favourite with us as the Eobin Eedbreast, with which it is 

 associated in several popular rhymes and superstitions, and 

 which it somewhat resembles in its familiar and confiding 

 habits. Although the Wren remains with us all the year 

 round, yet it is a partial migrant ; numbers being seen, while 

 on migration, at the lighthouses on the Isle of May, and 

 at the Fame Islands.^ It suffered severely, and was greatly 

 reduced in numbers, during the terrible winters of 1878-79, 

 1879-80, and 1880-81, many being found dead after the 



1 The Wren was observed on migration in Autumn 1880. — At Fame Islands, 

 23rd Nov. Spmig 1881.— At Isle of May, 19tli March. Autumn 1881.— Isle of 

 May, 6th and 8th Oct. ; Fames, 4th Oct., many. Autumn 1882. — Isle of May, 

 10th Oct. and 12th Nov. ; Fames, 7th to 13th Oct. Spmig 1883.— Isle of May, 

 9th April. Autumn 1883.— Isle of May, 22nd and 23rd Sep. and 7th Nov. 

 Spring 1884. — Fames, through March to 3rd April. Autumn 1884. — Isle of 

 May, 17th Sep., 9th to 25th Oct. AiUuvm 1885 — Fames, 23rd Oct. Spring 

 1886. — Fames, 11th Feb. to 30th March. — Reports on Migration of Birds, 

 1879-86. 



