2 
the 23rd of May; there they are to be seen about the village in considerable numbers, running 
in and out of the chinks between the stone-built cottages like mice, then alighting on the grass 
roofs and, with outspread wings and swelled throat, pouring forth a stream of melody far exceeding 
that of 7. parvulus. As soon as it was known that I wanted ‘ Mousabrouir’ nests and eggs, a 
brisk search commenced, boys, girls, and women aiding in it. I was taken from outhouse to 
outhouse to look at nests: all were exactly alike—outwardly a firm structure of hay, next a 
lining of moss, then a snug bed of down and sea-fowl feathers. All the nests I saw were placed 
in the same position—namely, between the blocks of stone of which the outhouses are built, the 
entrance to the nest invariably facing inwards. I examined seven or eight nests in this village: 
one only had eggs; the rest had young two or three days old. On the Island of Great Dimon I 
found the Wren numerous, and discovered its nest in a cave close to the landing-place, far away 
from the habitations of men. At Porkerri, on the 30th of May, 1872, I noticed a brood of five 
following their parents in and out of the boat-houses. In the northern islands it is abundant ; 
in Swinoe, on the 7th of June, I saw a brood following their parents, who collected them together 
with a chirp, and then fed them with insects that they had picked out of the gutter. The same 
day I put my hand into a nest and drew an old one out of it; it flew a few feet from me, perched 
on the gunwale of a boat, and broke out into a merry song. Before I left the boat-house the Wren 
returned to its nest. When I staid in the pastor’s house at Videroe I was awakened in the 
morning by the song of this bird close to the open window, so loud and so melodious that no one 
could help noticing the difference between its note and the more feeble efforts of our common 
Wren.” Captain Feilden kindly sent me one of the nests he obtained in the Feroes for examina- 
tion; and on comparing it with one of ZT. parvulus it is noticeable by being much stronger and 
more solidly constructed, besides having the entire outer shell of coarse hay. Five eggs of this 
Wren which I have in my possession, and which were collected on the Feroes by Mr. H. C. 
Miiller, differ from those of 7. parvulus in being considerably larger, measuring from 28 by 2% 
to $3 by 73 inch, but do not differ in colour or markings. 
The specimen figured is one in my collection obtained on the Feroes. 
In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— 
E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 
a,é, 0. Feroes (H. C. Miiller). 
E Mus. Howard Saunders. 
a, juv. Suderoe, Feroes, 3lst May 1872 (H. W. Feilden). 
