THE WREN. 93 



counties on the north of London. There is 

 another British species, called the Fire-crested 

 Regulus [Regidus ignkajiillus) ^ but it is a very 

 rare bird here, though abundant in the forests of 

 Germany. It much resembles our gold-crest, but 

 has three dark lines on the side of the head, and 

 is hence called by the French triple handeau. 



Who that notices birds has not a kindly thought 

 for that sweet songster of the winter day, that 

 familiar little bird, the common Wren, or Kitty 

 Wren, or Jenny Wren * as it is often called ? the 

 Troglodytes Europceus of the ornithologist. Every 

 country child gives it a welcome, as it hops about 

 the garden or beside the arbour, glad enough, 

 when snows and frosts are come, to share the 

 meal of the robin. Like the redbreast it is a 

 privileged bird, and the legends are of great 

 antiquity Avliich describe it as peculiarly protected 

 by the care of Him who made it. Grose remarks 

 that it is held extremely unlucky to kill a cricket, 

 a lady-bug. a swallow, martin, robin redbreast, 

 or wren. It is supposed, he says, that any one 



* The Wren is nearly four inches in length. Plumage red- 

 dish-brown, crossed by narrow bars of blackish; the ground- 

 colour is paler on the under parts, fading to light buff on the 

 breast and throat ; beak brown ; feet pale brown. 



