638 BIBDS. 



SECTION XVI. 



Wren. 

 Motacilla troglodytes. Link. 



The wren may be placed among the finest of our singing birds. 

 It continues its song throughout the winter, excepting during the 

 frosts. It makes its nest in a very curious manner ; of an oval 

 shape, very deep, with a small hole in the middle for egress and 

 regress ; the external material is moss, within it is lined with hair 

 and feathers. It lays from ten to eighteen eggs ; and as Often 

 brings up as many young; which, as Mr. Ray observes, may be 

 ranked among those daily miracles that we take no notice of; that 

 it should feed such a number without passing over one, and that 

 too in utter darkness. 



The head and upper part of the body of the wren are of a deep 

 reddish brown ; above each eye is a stroke of white ; the backj 

 and coverts of the wings, and tail, are marked with slender trans, 

 verse black lines ; the quill feathers with bars of black and red. 

 The throat is of a yellowish white. The belly and sides crossed 

 with narrow dusky and pale reddish brown lines. The tail is 

 crossed with dusky bars. [Pennant, 



SECTION XVII. 



Swift. 



Hirundo apus. Link. 



This species is the largest of our swallows ; but the weight is 

 most disproportionately small to its extent of wing of any bird; 

 the former being scarce one ounce, the latter eighteen inches ; the 

 length near eight. The feet of this bird are so small, that the 

 action of walking and of rising from the ground is extremely 

 difficult ; so that nature hath made it full amends, by furnishing it 

 with ample means for an easy and continual flight. It is more on 

 the wing than any other swallows : its flight is more rapid, and 

 that attended with a shrill scream. It rests by clinging against 

 Some wall or other apt body ; from whence Klein styles this species 

 hirundo muraria. It breeds under the caves of houses, in stee- 

 ples, and thi lofty buildings ; makes its ntst of grasses and 



