A WOOD WREN AT WELLS 96 



length and sharpness of the wings. Most warblers 

 fly and sing hurriedly ; the wood wren's motions, 

 like its song, are slower, more leisurely, and more 

 beautiful. When moved by the singing passion 

 it is seldom still for more than a few moments at 

 a time, but is continually passing from branch to 

 branch, from tree to tree, finding a fresh perch 

 from which to deliver its song on each occasion. 

 At such times it has the appearance of a delicately 

 coloured miniature kestrel or hobby. Most lovely 

 is its appearance when it begins to sing in the 

 air, for then the long sharp wings beat time to 

 the first clear measured notes, the prelude to the 

 song. As a rule, however, the flight is silent, 

 and the song begins when the new perch is 

 reached — first the distinct notes that are like 

 musical strokes, and fall faster and faster until 

 they run and swell into a long passionate trill — 

 the woodland sound which is like no other. 



Charming a creature as the wood wren appears 

 when thus viewed closely in the early spring- 

 time, he is not my favourite among small birds 

 because of his beauty of shape and colour and 

 graceful motions, which are seen only for a 

 short time, but on account of his song, which 



