THE FURZE-WREN. 3 



some places arc thin and far apart, when these 

 birds have taken shelter in a small patch of them, 

 boys have been known to drive them from bush 

 to bush, until they have tired them out, and 

 fairly run them down. I have procured several 

 that have fallen a sacrifice in that way. They 

 seem quite out of their element when they cannot 

 hide. I have known them caught by the hand 

 in a single furze-bush, rather than quit it. 

 Their last resource is to creep to the lowest 

 part of the furze, and close to the ground ; in 

 which case I have known instances of their being 

 trampled upon, the bush, a solitary one, being 

 trodden all over in order to make them start from 

 it. Bewick says they are supposed sometimes to 

 winter with us : I am convinced they always 

 winter with us. They are the least likely of any 

 of the motacillas to be birds of passage, because, 

 as I before observed, they live almost entirely in 

 the thickest furze, which would, throughout the 

 winter, afforcj them an ample supply of food, 

 (insects of course,) and shelter from the bitterest 

 storms. Early in the spring, the male birds are 

 seen sitting on the tops of the furze, and singing 

 sweetly. Their notes are somewhat similar to 

 the common wren; more varied and length- 

 ened, but not half so powerful, and rather plain- 

 tive. 



