172 CERTHIADJ5. 



plying their numerous offspring with insects in their various 

 states and worms. In reference to the depth of the nest, 

 and the number of young ones by which it is sometimes 

 occupied, for it is said that as many as sixteen have been 

 found in one nest, a remark by Willughby has been thus 

 paraphrased by Grahame in his poem on the birds of Scot- 

 land, 



" But now behold the greatest of this train 

 Of miracles, stupendously minute ; 

 The numerous progeny, claimant for food 

 Supplied by two small bills, and feeble wings 

 Of narrow range ; supplied ay, duly fed 

 Fed in the dark, and yet not one forgot ! " 



The Wren produces two broods in the season. 



This little bird is generally dispersed over England ; and 

 Mr. Thompson informs me that it is common throughout 

 Ireland ; it is also found in Scotland, in Orkney, and in 

 Shetland. M. Nilsson says it is resident in Sweden ; and 

 it is by the Fabers considered as an inhabitant of the Faroe 

 Islands, of Iceland, and of Greenland. It is even more 

 abundant in the northern than in the central parts of 

 Europe. It is however resident in Spain and Italy all the 

 year, and is found in Corfu, Sicily and Crete. Mr. H. E. 

 Strickland says it is common at Smyrna ; and the Zoolo- 

 gical Society have received specimens from Trebizond. 



Mr. Thompson in his notices on the Birds of Ireland, 

 thus refers to an annual custom still practised against the 

 poor little harmless Wren in the south of Ireland. Smith, 

 in his " History of Cork," written about a century ago, 

 remarks, as the Wren makes but short flights, and when 

 driven from the hedges is easily run down, to hunt and kill 

 him is an ancient custom of the Irish on St. Stephen's day. 

 The late Mr. T. F. Neligan of Tralee communicated the 

 following note upon this subject in 1837. To hunt the 



