BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



513 



returned she was still on her eggs, and I discovered 

 that she was quite dead and in a very emaciated 

 condition. On dissection there was no sign of 

 further eggs in her body. Size about .7 by .51 in. 

 (See Plate III ) 



Time. April, May, June, and July. 



Remarks. Resident. Notes : alarm, a jarring 

 kind of note ; song, loud, joyous, and heard all 

 the year round. Local and other names : Cutty 

 Wren, Titty Wren, Jenny Wren (a name also applied 

 to the Chiffchaff and Willow Wren), Tom Tit (in 

 the North of England), Kitty Wren. A close sitter. 



WREN, ST. KILDA. 



(Anorthura hirtensis.) 

 Order PASSERES ; Family TROGLODYTID^E (WRENS). 



To Mr. Charles Dixon 

 belongs the credit of first 

 discovering the differences 

 between this bird and its 

 mainland representative. 

 Whilst staying at St. Kilda 

 in 1896 my brother and 

 I gave the species particu- 

 lar attention, and our 

 observations resulted in 

 establishing the following facts. It is larger than 

 its mainland representative; its beak, legs, toes 

 and claws are a trifle stronger and lighter in 

 colour, and its plumage is generally much paler 

 and more distinctly marked. The bird does not 

 cock its tail at the acute angle so characteristic of 

 the mainland species. Sings oftener on the wing, 



2 H 



YOUNG ST. KILDA WREN. 



