The Wren. 169 



Family— TROGLODYTID.^. 



The Wren. 



Troglodytes parvulus, KoCH. 



OCCURS throughout Europe up to 65° N. lat. in Scandinavia and North 

 Russia, occurring in Morocco and Algeria, also in the Caucasus, Northern 

 Persia, Asia Minor, and Northern Palestine. 



In Great Britain it is generally distributed and resident ; but, as with many 

 more resident species, its numbers are greatl}^ added to in the autumn by 

 immigration. 



The adult male has the upper surface rich rufous brown, the crown and nape 

 appearing slightly darker ; thence barred throughout with deeper brown ; the 

 primaries brighter, their outer webs barred with pale-bufif; a buffish-white streak 

 over the eye ; under surface pale-brownish, more rufous and darker on the flanks, 

 belly, and under tail- coverts, which are also barred with smoky-brown ; bill dark- 

 brown above, paler below ; feet pale-brown ; iris dark-brown. The female is 

 slightly smaller, duller in colouring, with paler legs. Young birds are slightly 

 more rufous and less strongly barred. 



From its remarkably confiding habits the Wren has become as well-known as 

 the Robin ; and, incredible as it ma}' seem, there are still many persons living who 

 believe it to be the female of that familiar bird ; their study of Natural History 

 has apparently ceased from the period when they let go of their nurse's apron- 

 string, and the old rhyme — " Cock Robin and Jenny Wren, are God's A'mighty's 

 cock and hen," is regarded by them as inspired truth. Curiously enough, whereas 

 the Robin seems to be everywhere held in superstitious reverence, the poor little 

 Wren is remorselessly hunted to death in Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the south 

 of France, for no better reason. 



Although bold and fearless in the winter, the Wren is more frequently heard 

 than seen in the summer months ; although, in the spring, I have seen it sitting 

 in a low tree singing merrily enough : the song bears some resemblance to that 

 of the Hedge- Sparrow, but is much more varied, more rapid, and usually terminates 

 in a trill : the call is tsit-sit-sit, often repeated over and over again, as the little 

 bird drops from twig to twig in the cover. Excepting when feeding the young, 



