116 WREN. 
Volga district the Wren is chiefly observed in winter. It is found in 
Morocco and Algeria, although absent from Egypt; and it has 
been met with in the Caucasus, Northern Persia, Asia Minor and 
the north of Palestine ; the representative species in Central Asia 
being Z. pallidus. 
The Wren begins to breed very early, making its nest in shrubs, 
bushes overgrown with brambles, hedges, banks, the sides of walls 
covered with ivy, trees, hayricks, thatched roofs and other situations. 
The materials employed are principally leaves and moss, although 
dry grass is often used; sometimes there is a lining of feathers. 
The structure, which is comparatively large, is domed, and has a 
small hole in the side ; the eggs, about 6-8 (though 16 young have 
been found in one nest), are white, generally spotted with red: 
measurements ‘67 by *5 in. Two broods are produced in the 
season. It is a common belief—and one not to be rashly dis- 
countenanced—that if the inside of a Wren’s nest is touched the 
bird will desert it ; but if care be used such is by no means invari- 
ably the case. Imperfect nests are frequently found near an 
occupied one, and owing to the notion that they are built by the 
male bird for his lodging at night, they are commonly known as 
“ cocks’ nests.” In winter, however, old nests and holes in walls or 
thatched roofs are undoubtedly resorted to by Wrens in some num- 
bers for warmth and shelter. The song, loud for the size of the 
bird, may be heard during the greater part of the year; the alarm- 
note is a sharp clicking cht. The food consists principally of 
insects, for which search is made in all sorts of crannies, but in winter 
the bird will eat seeds and any odd scraps. 
The adult has a dull white streak over the eye ; upper parts red- 
dish-brown, with narrow transverse darker bars ; outer quills umber- 
brown, barred with buff and dark brown on the exterior webs ; under 
parts buffish-white on the chin and throat, becoming browner on the 
belly and flanks, the latter being somewhat barred ; bill dark brown 
above, paler below, legs and feet light brown. Length 3:5 in. ; wing 
1‘9 in. The female is smaller, duller above and browner beneath, 
and has paler legs. The young are less distinctly barred. 
