THE WHEN. 419 



164. THE WEEN. 



Sylvia or Motacilla Troglodytes, LIN. Roitekt, BUF. DerZaunkoniy, 

 BECH. 



Description. This bird, almost the smallest of those de- 

 scribed in the present work, is only three inches and a half in 

 length, of which the tail measures one inch and a quarter. 

 The beak is five lines long, somewhat curved downwards at 

 the point. The upper mandible is blackish brown ; the lower 

 yellowish white; and the inside yellow. The iris is nut- 

 brown; the feet greyish brown, and seven lines in height. 

 The upper part of the body is a dingy rusty brown, crossed by 

 indistinct dark brown stripes. A reddish white stripe passes 

 over the eyes. The wings are dark brown, and the tail rust 

 colour ; both, however, striped with black. The under part of 

 the body is generally reddish grey ; but the belly is white, the 

 sides and vent tinged with rust colour, and all covered with 

 transverse black stripes. 



The female is still smaller. The general colour of the plu- 

 mage is a reddish brown, covered with indistinct transverse 

 stripes. The feet are yellow. 



Habitat. The Wren may be met with in all the woody and 

 mountainous districts of Europe. It is not a bird of passage ; 

 and is often seen, especially in winter, near human habitations. 



The Wren may be kept to most advantage in a large cage of 

 osiers or wire. If allowed to range the room, its minute size 

 gives it many opportunities of escape. 



Food. It feeds throughout the year on small insects, for 

 which in winter it searches in barns, stables, crevices of walls, 

 and piles of wood. In autumn it eats red and black elder- 

 berries. 



As soon as caught, the Wren should be fed on meal worms, 

 flies, and elderberries, by the use of which it may after a while 

 be brought to eat the Nightingale's paste. In this way even old 

 birds may be preserved in health for a considerable time. 



Breeding. The Wren builds its nest in any quiet corner : 

 it has been found in holes in the ground, hollow trees, among 

 roots, under roofs, and in many other similar places. It is oval 

 in shape, built of moss, lined with hair and feathers, and has 

 at the side a little opening for the bird's entrance and exit. 

 The female lays seven or eight small whitish eggs, sparingly 

 spotted with white. The young birds are rust coloured, with 



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