io 4 THE RIVER-SIDE NATURALIST. 



as a traitor, outlaw, &c., and condemned to be killed 

 whenever met. 



On St. Stephen's Day the hunting of the wren and then 

 slinging the poor birds on a pole was a usual custom in 

 the south of Ireland. The children with this pole went 

 about soliciting alms and singing a song, part of which is 

 here quoted from Mr. S. C. Hall's book : 



" The wran, the wran, the king of all birds, 

 St Stephen's Day was cot in the furze ; 

 Although he is little, his family's grate, 

 Put your hand in your pocket and give us a trate. 

 Sing holly, sing ivy, sing ivy, sing holly, 

 A drop just to drink, it would drown melancholy." 



The beautiful moss-domed nest of this little bird is 

 often found in the roof of a summer-house, or in some ivy, 

 or by the side of an old tree. Wordsworth says : 



" Among the dwellings framed by birds 



In field or forest with nice care, 

 Is none that with the little wren's 

 In snugness may compare." 



And Mr. J. Whitaker gives the following interesting account 

 of these birds building their nests with the materials nearest 

 at hand : 



" WRENS' NESTS. Some time ago I described in the 

 Zoologist a wren's nest which had been built in a straw- 

 stack, and as the outside was entirely composed of straw, 

 I remarked that these little birds assimilated their nests 

 generally to the surrounding objects. Since then I have 

 formed another opinion namely, that they make their 

 nests of the nearest available materials, which very often 

 match the surroundings of the nest. I may mention the 

 following nests which have come under my notice : One 

 in brown bracken, all outside of bracken ; one in a wall 

 over a bed of nettles, the outside being composed of pieces 

 and leaves of nettles ; one near a carpenter's shop, all out- 

 side of shavings ; one in an arbour here the nest was 

 built in the side in some old heather, and was made of old 

 grass which was used to stop up holes in the window of 



