98 OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



fairy-like in the attitudes and gestures of these little 

 birds as they sport about the trees in small parties in 

 the autumn and winter. The word " tiny " seems to me 

 best to describe the bird itself and its song ; the call- 

 note somewhat resembles that of the Tits a " see, see," 

 or "tzit ;" but the song has often been compared to the 

 music of tiny bells. Others have thought that there 

 was something that reminded them of a wheel in its 

 peculiar iteration, and this seems to me to be nearest 

 the truth. It is heard very early in the year, and is 

 sometimes uttered when the bird is on the wing. 



The nest, which is a very beautiful one, is placed 

 under the branch of a fir-tree, and generally near the 

 end of the bough. It is made of wool and moss, is 

 lined with feathers, and spiders' webs are used to com- 

 pact the structure. The eggs, from six to ten in 

 number, are of the size of peas, and generally of a pale 

 white, speckled with brown or red. 



WREN. 



Troglodytes parvulus ; Troglodyte ordinaire ; Zaunkonig. 



Bill, rather long and brownish ; upper plumage, 

 reddish-brown, with bars of dark brown ; chin and 

 throat, greyish ; light streak over the eye ; tail, short 

 and erect. Length, less than four inches. 



The little Wren is one of the smallest birds in the 

 land. Always associated with Cock Robin, and by 

 many supposed as Jenny Wren to be a near connection 

 of that favourite bird, if not indeed his wife, the Wren 

 by no means shares his popularity in Ireland, but is 



