360 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



hole is usually from six or seven to twelve or fourteen 

 inches deep. In orchards, spinneys, parks, woods, 

 and well-timbered districts generally, in the South 

 and West of England, and as far north as York. 



Materials. None, the eggs being laid on the 

 wood dust and fine chips at the bottom of the hole. 



Eggs. Five to nine, six being the general 

 number, white and glossy. Size about -76 by -58 in. 

 Distinguished from those of the Wryneck only by 

 smaller size and a sight of parents. 



Time, April and May. 



Remarks. Eesident. Notes : tic-tic, or hinJc- 

 Idnk. Local and other names : Crank Bird, Pump- 

 borer, Least-spotted Woodpecker, Little Black and 

 White Woodpecker, Hickwall, Barred Woodpecker. 

 Sits closely. 



WREN, COMMON. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length a little 

 under four inches ; bill of moderate length, slightly 

 curved downwards, dark brown on the top, and 

 light brown underneath. Irides hazel. A dull, 

 whitish line runs over the eye and ear-coverts. 

 Head, nape, back, and rump reddish-brown, faintly 

 marked on the two latter with wavy bars of light 

 and dark brown ; wing and tail feathers marked 

 with light reddish -brown and black bars ; chin, 

 cheeks, throat, and breast greyish-white, tinged 

 with buff; belly, sides, and thighs light brown, 

 marked with narrow wavy bars of a darker tint of 

 the same colour ; under tail-coverts indistinctly 

 spotted with black and dirty white ; legs, toes, and 

 claws pale brown. 



The female is rather smaller, duller on her 

 upper-parts, and darker beneath. 



