448 CERTHIADjE. 



sent in search of food for its young, which were nearly fledged, 

 the wren generally contrived to steal from it " two or three good 

 mouthfuls" to assist in the erection of its own edifice. Tins 

 species will sometimes, but not always, desert its nest and eggs, if 

 the latter have been but once handled. The food contained in 

 the stomachs of two wrens examined in January, was entirely 

 insects ; in the one, consisting of minute Coleoptera only. 



Mr. E. Davis, junr., of Clonmel, communicated the following 

 note in Nov., 1841 : — " Being some years ago in want of the 

 eggs of the spotted flycatcher, I had been watching a pair which 

 had built in a garden near our house. The female had laid three 

 eggs, and on my going two days afterwards, hoping to find the 

 full number, five, my surprise may be imagined, when instead of 

 them, the nest was found crammed with young wrens just able to 

 fly ! they had apparently broken or thrown out all the eggs but 

 one : the flycatchers were gone. I suppose the wrens, being 

 ' brought out' for the first time, had taken refuge in the nest and 

 expelled the rightful owners; but it was rather a curious and 

 inexplicable circumstance." 



I have often in winter seen the wren in a well-sheltered locality 

 frequenting the cow-shed and farm-stable in the forenoon of frosty 

 days, when there was bright and warm sunshine out of doors. It 

 nightly roosted in the former, winch was the warmest place that 

 could be found. This bird often resorts to the green-houses and 

 hot-houses in the garden of a relative, especially in winter. My 

 friend Wm. Ogilby, Esq., supplies the following note on this sub- 

 ject : — " These little birds associate in small families of from four 

 or five to a dozen or more, and take refuge in holes, or under the 

 eaves of thatched houses, during the severity of winter nights. 

 I have often, when a boy, watched the little party thus taking up 

 their lodging for the night, and have on more than one occasion 

 captured and drawn them from their retreat. They make a pro- 

 digious chattering and bustle before finally settling for the night, 

 as if contending which shall get into the warmest and most com- 

 fortable place, and frequently come to the mouth of the hole to 

 see that they are unobserved. I presume that these little parties 



