THE COMMON WEEN. 



Sylvia troglodytes Pennant, Temminck. 

 Troglodytes europccusSelby, Gould. 



T was some time before natural- 

 ists could assign this popular 

 favourite a proper position in 

 ornithological classification, and 

 the Wren was originally placed 

 among the warblers ; but for 

 various reasons this bird is now 

 placed with the Troglodytes, as 

 having more in common with 

 that class than with the Sylvidse. 

 Equally with the Robin and 

 Swallow, this bird has enjoyed 

 an amount of protection almost 

 amounting to superstition, and 

 it is not to be wondered at that 

 a cheery little bird like the 

 Wren, whose whole food consists 

 of insects, and who stays with 

 us throughout the winter, cheer- 

 ing us with its merry little song, 

 should hold a prominent position 

 in the goodwill of all men. 

 Some little time back, however, 

 we are sorry to say the Wren in certain localities suffered 

 considerably from the irrepressible schoolboy. Noticing 

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