14 



Case 140. 



WREN {Troglodytes parvuhis). 

 Local name : Kitty Wren. 

 A familiar resident, generally distributed and its number greatly 

 increased by autumn immigration. Its active, fearless ways and loud 

 clieerful song have endeared it to all. The beautifully constructed 

 dome-shaped nest with the entrance at the side, is made of leaves, 

 moss and grass, and occasionally lined with feathers. In situation it 

 is very varied, always well concealed in dense tangled vegetation or in 

 a hole in a tree trunk (as here shown). The eggs, from six to nine in 

 number, are white spotted with red (see British Bird Egg Cabinet, 

 drawer 3). The nesting season begins early, and two broods are 

 produced in tlie season. 



Case 141. 



GOLD-CRESTED WREN {Reguhis cristatus). 



This resident species is the smallest of our British birds, and is 

 generally distributed wherever plantations of larch and fir are to be 

 found. The food consists of insects, and being a very social bird they are 

 frequently observed searching for food in the company of flocks of Tits 

 and Creepers. The nest is beautifully constructed — moss and lichen 

 felted together with wool and spiders' webs and lined with feathers. 

 It is generally placed beneath the extremity of a branch of some 

 evergreen tree, such as fir, yew (as here shown), or cedar. Five to ten 

 eggs of a pale buff, minutely freckled with yellowish brown (see British 

 Bird Egg Cabinet, drawer 2), are laid early in the season. 



Case 142. 



LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE {Aeredula caudata). 

 Local name : Bottle Tit. 

 The resident form of this species is generally distributed throughout 

 the British Islands. Its food consists of insects and their larvae. The 

 nest is usually placed in a bush such as a holly or gorse bush (as here 

 shown), but occasionally in the lichen-covered branches of a tree. It 

 is oval in shape, formed of moss and wool, and felted together by 

 spiders' webs, encrusted with lichens and lined with feathers. The 

 entrance is placed in the upper part of the side. Seven to ten eggs, 

 white in colour with indistinct red spots (see British Bird Egg Cabinet, 

 drawer 3), are laid in the latter half of April. 



Case 143. 



SPOTTED FLY-CATCHER {Muscicapa grisola). 



A common summer visitor, appearing about the first week in May, 

 generally distributed throughout the British Islands. Its food consists 



