THE WREN 
TROGLODYTES PARVULUS 
Loca. names in surrounding counties : “* Diddy Wren,” 
“¢'Tiddley Wren ”’ (Essex). 
Status IN British Avirauna: A common and widely 
distributed resident. 
RapraL DisTrRiBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Pauw’s: The Wren may fairly be described as a common 
resident throughout all suitable places in the Metropolitan 
area. ‘The Wren’s requirements are modest ones, and 
from the urban parks outwards through the increasingly 
rural suburbs to the remote open country on their furthest 
radius the restless little bird may be met with. I have 
heard its cheery carol within a stone’s-throw of ‘Tra- 
falgar Square, on the island in St. James’s Park, and in 
such spots as the Botanical Gardens, Kensington Gardens 
(near the palace), the grounds of Holland House, and many 
small patches of private ground at no great distance 
from the City. Like the Hedge Accentor, the Wren will 
often take up its quarters for the autumn and winter in 
some spot that affords it suitable cover, which it leaves 
in spring for a nesting-place further afield. Although 
mouse-like and skulking in its habits, its almost perennial 
song soon betrays its whereabouts in many localities 
where otherwise it would most probably be overlooked. 
It is often matter for surprise how small a suburban 
garden or shrubbery will serve as a haunt for this species 
during many months of the year, the bird only quitting 
such a retreat to rear its young. ‘lhe Wren is one of the 
most restless birds, not spending its activity up in the 
trees or bushes, but close to the ground, where it is for 
ever exploring every nook and corner, creeping about old 
walls, hedge-bottoms, the drifts of dead leaves, heaps of 
pea-sticks, or any other spots likely to harbour the ‘‘ small 
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