74 THE FURZE-WREN. 



" All I can say of the eggs and nests of the 

 furze-wrens, must be surmise only. Some eggs 

 brought me by boys, I have supposed might be- 

 long to these birds ; but those of the willow and 

 common wrens, also the tit-mice, assimilate so 

 nearly, it is difficult to ascertain them separately, 

 unless the birds and nests are watched. I cannot 

 suppose the nest to be oval, nor does it follow it 

 should be shaped thus like the nests of other 

 wrens, because I think it would be an unneces- 

 sary provision, if placed in the thick furze, and 

 that I have no doubt is the situation usually 

 chosen for it. This is nearly all I know about 

 these birds, except that, after long enquiry, I 

 have found that they are known by men and boys 

 where the furze is abundant, by the name of 

 red eyes. You cannot do better than copy 

 Bewick's description as to the size and colour of 

 the birds in question."" 



W. K. 



