THE WREN 



TROGLODTTES PARFULUS 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties :* " Diddy Wren," 

 " Tiddley Wren " (Essex). 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : A common and widely 

 distributed resident. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'S : The Wren may fairly be described as a common 

 resident throughout all suitable places in the Metropolitan 

 area. The Wren's requirements are modest ones, and 

 from the urban parks outwards through the increasingly 

 rural suburbs to the remote open country on their furthest 

 radius the restless little bird may be met with. I have 

 heard its cheery carol within a stone's-throw of Tra- 

 falgar Square, on the island in St. James's Park, and in 

 such spots as the Botanical Gardens, Kensington Gardens 

 (near the palace), the grounds of Holland House, and many 

 small patches of private ground at no great distance 

 from the City. Like the Hedge Accentor, the Wren will 

 often take up its quarters for the autumn and winter in 

 some spot that affords it suitable cover, which it leaves 

 in spring for a nesting-place further afield. Although 

 mouse-like and skulking in its habits, its almost perennial 

 song soon betrays its whereabouts in many localities 

 where otherwise it would most probably be overlooked. 



It is often matter for surprise how small a suburban 

 garden or shrubbery will serve as a haunt for this species 

 during many months of the year, the bird only quitting 

 such a retreat to rear its young. The Wren is one of the 

 most restless birds, not spending its activity up in the 

 trees or bushes, but close to the ground, where it is for 

 ever exploring every nook and corner, creeping about old 

 walls, hedge-bottoms, the drifts of dead leaves, heaps of 

 pea-sticks, or any other spots likely to harbour the " small 



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