THE WREN 293 



name implies, it found the appendage rather in the way, and Nature 

 therefore shortened it almost to vanishing point. Not being such an 

 acrobat as the long-tailed tit, the wren does not require a tail as a 

 balancing pole, and perhaps feels some contempt for the latter bird, 

 which has to devote a considerable amount of time to the arrange- 

 ment of hers as she sits in her bottle-shaped nest. But as we all 

 have our own particular vanities, even the practical and bustling 

 wren is no exception to the general rule, for its little body is decorated 

 with a wondrous arrangement of bars and dots, which have a 

 marvellously aesthetic value when examined closely. When the male 

 is displaying his attractions during courtship, the white spots on the 

 tail and wing-coverts are brought into view, but after the wear and 

 tear of family life these small white dots become obliterated. 



Quite early in February our commons and waste places are 

 enlivened by the loud challenge of the male wrens as they call to 

 one another from bush to bush, often across wide intervening spaces. 

 By careful stalking you can get close enough to see these diminutive 

 swaggerers, with tail erect and head thrust forward, inciting each 

 other to deeds of valour. The curious "churring" note rapidly 

 repeated is uttered first by one and then by the next, but the 

 warfare seems to be principally wordy, as the combatants seldom 

 come to close quarters, and if conscious of observation, drop down 

 immediately into the tangled undergrowth. Sometimes, however, 

 they meet and fight and sing between the rounds. 



A remarkable instance of this is recorded in the Zoologist 

 (1869, p. 1645). Two wrens were found fighting on the ground, among 

 the leaves. Their feet were locked, and they struck with their beaks. 

 So absorbed were they, that one was picked up, while its rival flew 

 to a rock, where it poured forth scorn and defiance. On being 

 released the captive returned the challenge with equal energy, and 

 in less than a minute they again closed, struggling on the ground as 

 before. Though again separated twice, the combat was renewed each 

 time. Finally they were left to settle their differences unhindered. 



