﻿2 8 Birds 



The colouring of this bird is brown above, with the crown 

 paler, but each feather with a dark centre ; the wings and tail also 

 dark, with pale margins to the secondaries and coverts ; under- 

 pays whitish with dark longitudinal streaks on the breast and flanks. 

 The sexes are similar in plumage. Bill dark brown ; feet black. . 



The chief food of the Spotted Flycatcher consists of insects, a 

 large number being pursued and captured on the wing. Flies of 

 various species seem to form the greater portion of its diet. 



WEEN. 



Anorthura troglodytes. 



This common little bird is distributed throughout Great Britain, 

 and is resident, but in the autumn considerable numbers arrive on 

 the east coasts from abroad. 



Although confiding and fearless during the autumn and winter, 

 the Wren is most shy and zealous regarding its nesting site, which 

 it is ready to forsake at the least interference. It frequently selects 

 outbuildings and various odd places for its nest, but almost any 

 well-concealed site appears suitable for its requirements. Ivy on 

 buildings, trees, walls, woods with dense undergrowth, and hedges 

 are all equally suited for nesting purposes. The nest is a large 

 dome-shaped structure with a small hole in the side, composed of 

 all kinds of materials, often those most suited to harmonise with 

 the surroundings. Usually dead leaves or moss are used externally, 

 with a soft lining of moss and feathers. 



In number the eggs vary from four to six ; they are white, 

 speckled with light red. The food of this bird consists almost 

 entirely of insects throughout the year ; during the severest 

 weather it is apparently able to find an abundance of insects of 

 various kinds to keep itself strong and active. Woodlice, spiders, 

 beetles, larvae, and other insects are readily detected while 

 hibernating in crevices of bark and other retreats by these useful 

 little birds. 



The Wren has the whole of the upper parts rufous-brown, 

 barred with darker brown ; primaries barred with pale buff ; over 

 the eye is a buffish-white streak ; under-parts grey-buff, shading 

 into a rufous tinge on the flanks, which are barred with darker 

 brown ; bill brown ; feet pale brown. The female is smaller and 

 somewhat paler. 



