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foundation, the Isle of Man Examiner newspaper states at least 

 that "like Hamlet with Hamlet omitted, the carcass of the wren 

 is absent from the hunt, though not alicaijs absent from the chase." 

 The persecution of the wren owed — we regret to say — its origin 

 to the Christian clergy in their over-zeal against all things or 

 beliefs pre-existent to theirs, this bird being a druidical bird, and 

 sacred to the rites which these great teachers of men, the Druids, 

 solemnised in their groves, as is surmised. The St Kilda wren 

 is thought to be a Jocal and separate species. 



In " Death of Bran," the wren or dreolan is called the " king 

 of birds" everywhere, and is there called " Finn's doctor." 



The wren is to be met with frequently in Gaelic poetry, and 

 a folk-lore tale goes greatly to the credit of this mite-bird. The 

 following version, as it differs somewhat from others which have 

 appeared, may be given. It was furnished by Alexander MacKay, 

 author of Sutherland Reviiniscences'. " Mar thug an dreathan-donn 

 an car as an t-sionnach," or how the wren outwitted the fox — 

 Sutherland version. It happened one day in early spring, when 

 the wren was busy searching for materials suitable for nest- 

 building, that he discovered some beneath a superincumbent 

 matted mass of other material which he was powerless to remove. 

 As he was striving to get something out, the fox passed by. 

 When he heard the wren's tale, he said, " What will you give me 

 if I will assist you ? " " Oh," said the wren, " when I've threshed 

 out my grain in autumn, I may be able to pay you something." 

 " How much will you give me } " said the fox. The wren thought 

 a while, and then said, " Peic 'us ceannan," a peck and two pecks. 

 Of course they were conversing in Gaelic. The fox agreed to the 

 terms, assisted the wren, and went on his way. Towards the end 

 of the year the fox remembered his engagement with the wren 

 and thought he should be looking him up, which he duly did, and 

 found him in his barn threshing busily, along with his twelve 

 sons. Being desirous of reminding him of his promise, he went 

 to the door of the barn, but for the life of him he could not 

 distinguish father from sons. At last he hit upon a plan by 

 saying, " What a different stroke the father has from the sons " 

 (Al. 'Tis easy to recognise the old hero's stroke). Stepping forward 

 proudly the old fellow said, " 'Tis well, you've said, 'tis well, you've 

 said " (Al. There was a day for that), whereupon the fox reminded 

 him of his promise made in early spring. " Certainly, certainly," 

 said the wren, coming out of the barn. Jumping up on a dyke and 

 looking towards the house, he shouted, " It was Peic 'us Ceannan, 

 was it not, Peic 'us Ceannan, Peic 'us Ceannan," whereupon two 

 dogs so named came rushing out, and the fox found he had been out- 

 witted, and left hurriedly. Another version is that the fox wished 

 to identify the old cock-wren first, and then he would secure the 

 eighteen sons. As may be inferred from the foregoing, this dear 

 little bird is one of the boldest for its size. It is vulgarly supposed 



