CREEPER. WREN. ( J9 



of the tree, whence it peers cautiously to seeif,the intruder be 

 still there. Again we observe it pursuing its way along the 

 upper branches, and then, suddenly glancing down, proceeds 

 to explore another tree. 



A pair of these birds built a nest, for six successive years, 

 near to a door in the garden of Dr. Barker, at Stirling, 

 and on one occasion successfully attacked a marauding blue 

 titmouse that had ventured to disturb their serenity. The 

 eggs, as might be expected from the small size of the bird, 

 are very diminutive, and of a glossy white, dotted with pur- 

 plish red. 



Indigenous. 



GENUS XLIX. TROGLODYTES (WREN). 

 SPECIES 98. THE COMMON WREN. 



Troglodytes Europceus. Linn. 

 Troglodyte ordinaire. Temrn. 



IN this species we have an instance of a bird not remarkable 

 for beauty of form or plumage, which possesses an advantage 

 over others, attracting notice for the external elegance of 

 their appearance. The wren is one of those which, by the 

 quiet simplicity of its habits, has so firmly entwined itself 

 round man's affection, that in every country it has been 

 taken under his protection. Preserving its wildness no mat- 

 ter how closely it approaches him, it is invariably an atten- 

 dant upon his presence ; and although in every season we 

 may observe it an occasional dweller in the forest, and in the 

 recesses of the deepest wood, yet it is alone " the wren" when 

 in the neighbourhood of the cottage. 



Diminutive in size, it is one of the hardiest of our small 

 native birds ; and in the greatest depth of winter we may 

 hear their shrill chirp, remote from cultivation, in frost- 

 bound localities, promising little in the way of food. 



In comparison with its diminutive size, the song of the 

 wren is the loudest of all our Irish birds, and during all sea- 

 sons it may be heard outpouring hurriedly its notes, and at 

 each conclusion jerking up the tail in a curious manner, and 

 diving, when alarmed, into the thickest of the hedgerow. 



A peculiarity of the wren, mentioned by many authors, is 

 its habit of constructing several nests during spring, and then 

 deserting them, returning and making use of them during 

 winter for warmth sake. 



" The very nest 

 Is warmed through winter by her feathery breast." 



