)( THE COMMON AVREN, 



Si/Ivia Iroglodijtcs — Pennant, Ti'inminck. 

 Troylodi/tes cuyopwiis — Sclby, Gould. 



T was some time before natural- 

 ists could assign to this popular 

 favourite a proper position in 

 ornitholog-ical classitieatiou, and 

 the Wreii was orij^-inally placed 

 amoiig" the warblers ; but for 

 various reasons this bird is now 

 placed with the Troglodytes, as 

 hayhig more in common with 

 thatj-'lass than with tlie Sylvidse. 

 Equally with tlie Robin and 

 Swallow, this bird has enjoyed 

 an amount of protection almost 

 amounting- to superstition^ and 

 it is not to be wondered at that 

 a cheery little bird like the 

 Wren, whose whole food consists 

 of insects, and who stays with 

 us throughout the winter, cheer- 

 ing us with its merry_little song, 

 shoidd hold a prominent position 

 in the good\vill of all men. 

 Some little time back, howeverj 

 we are sorry to say the Wren in certain localities suffered 

 considerably from the irrepressible schoolboy. Noticing 

 E 



