48 THE WREN 
horizontal branch; along this it proceeds ‘in like manner, being 
indifferent whether it clings sideways, or hangs with its back down- 
wards. Arrived at the smaller subdivisions of the bough it ceases 
to hunt; but, without remaining an instant to rest, flies to the 
base of another bough, or more probably, to another tree, alighting 
a few feet only from the ground, and at once beginning a new ascent 
This mode of life it never varies: from morning to night, in winter 
and in summer, it is always climbing up the boles of trees, and 
when it has reached the top, flying to the base of others. Onone 
solitary occasion I observed one retrace its steps for a few inches, 
and stand for a second or two with its head downwards ; but this 
is a most unusual position, as indeed may be inferred from the 
structure of its tail, the feathers of which are rigid, and more or 
less soiled by constant pressure against the bark. It frequently 
visits orchards and gardens in the country, displaying little fear 
of man, preferring perhaps to hunt on the far side of a tree when 
any one is looking on; but not very particular even about this, 
and certainly never thinking it necessary to decamp because it is 
being watched. To this indifference to the presence of human 
beings, it owes its name ‘ familiaris’, and not, as it might be imagined, 
to any fondness for their society, which, in fact, it neither courts 
nor shuns. It is a quiet inoffensive creature, congregating with 
no other birds, and being rarely, except in spring, seen in company 
with even its own species. It builds its nest of small roots and 
twigs, scraps of bark and grass, and lines it with wool and feathers. 
A hole in a pollard willow is a favourite place for a nest ; in default 
of this a hollow in any other tree is selected, or the space between 
the stump of a tree and a detached portion of bark; and it chooses 
the straw eaves of some shed. It lays from six to nine eggs, which 
are exceedingly like those of the smaller Tits. 
FAMILY TROGLODYTIDZ: 
THE WREN 
TROGLODYTES PARVULUS 
Upper plumage reddish brown with transverse dusky bars}; quills barred 
alternately with black and reddish brown ; tail dusky, barred with black ; 
over the eyes a narrow light streak; under parts light reddish brown ; 
the sides and thighs marked with dark streaks. Length three inches 
and three-quarters; breadth six inches and a half. Eggs white with a 
few yellowish red spots towards the larger end, sometimes without spots. 
THROUGHOUT the whole of England the Wren is invested with a 
sanctity peculiar to itself and the Redbreast. In the west of 
England I was familiar, as a child, with the doggerel rhymes: 
