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518 AVES—WREN. 
THE GOLDEN CRESTED WRENS 
Tus is the smallest of all British birds, is very beautiful, and has an 
extremely delicate and pleasing note, somewhat less loud than that of the 
common wren. In winter it may be distinguished by its shrill squeak, 
which somewhat resembles the cricking of a grasshopper. It is very agile, 
and is almost constantly in motion, either fluttering from branch to branch, 
creeping on all sides of the trees, clinging to them in all ways, and often 
hanging with its back downward, like a titmouse. Insects and their eggs, 
small worms, and various kinds of seeds, constitute its food. The female 
lays from ten to eighteen eggs, which are scarcely larger than peas; and 
the nest is frequently formed amongst the leaves at the top of the branch of 
a fir tree, where, in high winds, it swings like a pendulum. 
Of this wren the head and upper part are of a deep reddish brown; the 
vack, and the coverts of the wings and tail, are marked with slender trans- 
verse black lines; the quill feathers are barred with black and red; the belly 
and sides are crossed with narrow, dusky and pale reddish brown lines; the 
tail is crossed with dusky bars; the throat is a yellowish white; and there 
is a stroke of white above each eye. 
THE EUROPEAN WREN 
Tuis iilliputian songster is a native of every part of Europe. It weighs 
only three drachms, is but four inches in length, from the point of the bill to 
the end of the tail, and is admired for the loudness of its note, compared 
with the little body whence it issues. It wilf carol forth its strains uncon- 
cerned during a fall of snow. Even when confined in a cage, it has some- 
times been known to sing as strong as when in its native fields, and 
with equal freedom and mellowness of song. It commonly creeps about 
hedges or trees, in the vicinity of farmyards, and sings very late in-the 
evening, though not, like the nightingale, after the landscape is enveloped 
with darkness.—The female lays from ten to eighteen eggs, which are very 
small, white, and sprinkled with red spots. 
The wren constructs its nest in a very curious manner. Unlike other 
birds, it does not begin first at the bottom. If the nest be placed against a 
bank, it commences the fabric at the top; if against a tree, it at the outset 
1 Regulus auricapillus, Serzy. The genus Regulus has the bill straight, slender, 
deeper than broad, compressed, the edges bending inwards; nostrils basal, with bristles 
directed forwards; wings with the first quill short, the second shorter than the third, 
which is the longest; tarsus longer than the middle toe. 
2 Troglodytes Europeus, Cuv. The genus T'roglodytes has the bill slender, and 
ughtly compressed, curved, emanginated ; nostrils basal, half covered by a naked mem- 
prane ; wings short and rounded ; fourth and fifth feathers of equal length and longest ; 
.ail short, rounded, erect; tarsus the length of the middle toe. 
