November, 1920. 



The Irish Naluralist. 



109 



SOME NOTES ON THE HABFrS OF THE WREN. 



BY ROBERT F. RUTTLEDGE. 



During the last twelve months two articles have appeared 

 in the Irish Naturalist with regard to the habits of the 

 Wren. The following are a few observations which I have 

 made regarding its habits, which differ from those of some 

 other naturalists in this country. ' 



Mr. J. P. Burkitt states- that the male bird apparently 

 takes no part in feeding the young while still in the nest. 

 My experience is that both sexes feed the young while in the 

 nest, and as recently as July 30th of this year I watched 

 for some time both male and female doing so. Not only 

 did both sexes feed the young, but both took part in re- 

 moving the excrement from the nest, it being carried about 

 ten yards before being disposed of. 



Kinahan observed that the Wren was regular in the time 

 of its commencement of song, and that in five years it 

 only once commenced before the beginning of November. 

 He added that the song ceases about the middle of June.^ 

 In Kinahan 's table for bird song he shows the Wren to have 

 sung in every month except August. 



Regarding the above points, my experience is that the 

 Wren sings in every month of the year, even throughout 

 August, though less frequently than in other months. The 

 song is heard most often until the last week in July, and 

 Wrens may be heard in song everywhere towards the end of 

 September. 



The fact of the Wren singing while in flight is another 

 point which is sometimes discussed. The late Rev. C. W. 

 Benson stated that he had never heard it sing whilst on the 

 wing. I may here state that both my brother and I have 

 noticed this habit in this part of Ireland. 



Bloomfield, 



nollymount, Co. Mayo. 



^ Tvish Naturalist, vol. xxviii., 19 19, p. 85. 



2 Ussher and Warren's " Birds of Ireland," p. 33. 



A 



