WREN. 
158 
and readily sensible of danger ; on the least alarm it hastens 
to hide itself from observation with the greatest possible 
speed : its hops or leaps are mostly executed with the tail 
erect, and follow in such quick succession that its flight 
through the intricacies of a bush or hedge has a great resem¬ 
blance to the running of a mouse. When a bird of prey 
appears, the little wren often gives the alarm, by uttering 
rapidly its note of fear, shrek ! shrek ! so quickly repeated, 
that it sounds like a miniature watchman’s rattle ; this is usu¬ 
ally accompanied with a curtsying, or dipping motion, in 
the manner of the redbreast. 
The flight of the Wren is performed in a straight line, 
fluttering incessantly its short rounded wings; it seldom 
performs any longer flight than from bush to bush, or across 
an open grass plat, and usually near the ground, as if con¬ 
scious of its imperfect powers. 
The Wren sings occasionally at all seasons, but least 
in the autumn. Early in spring its lively song may be 
heard suddenly to break forth in a clear and cheerful strain : 
its voice is very strong for so small a bird, more than equal¬ 
ing in strength that of the redbreast. It appears usually 
to sing one stated succession of notes, or at most exhibits 
but little variety. In the performance of its song the whole 
body of the little vocalist vibrates, the bill is raised and 
opened wide, the throat enlarged, and the wings drooping. 
While singing, the little bird frequently sits upon the upper 
branch of a hedge or bush, and when the song is ended 
precipitately descends. 
This little species rears its young throughout the greater 
part of Europe, as far northward as Sweden. Its nest is 
variously placed, and at very different elevations ; it is some¬ 
times found upon the ground, and occasionally as high as 
twenty feet above it, as opportunity offers. In the situation 
chosen for it gi’eat variety also may be observed. Some 
