MOTACILL A TROGLODYTES, 



COMMON W R E N. 



Generic Character. See Motacilla lufcinia. 

 Synonyms. 



Motacilla Troglodytes. Lin. Syjl. i. p. 337. 46L 

 Wren. Br. Zool. 1. 154. Lath. Syn. 4. p. 506*. No, 143, 



Bewick's Br. Birds, Pi. 1. p. 235. 

 Common Wren. Mont. Orn. Diffi, 



F ij'"H 



JL H I S fpecies is in length from three to four inches, and 

 weighs rather more than a quarter of an ounce ; bill near half 

 an inch long, nightly curved ; eyes large and dark ; legs flen* 

 der ; claws large (in proportion to the fize of the bird) and 

 much curved. Colours alike in both fexes. It lays from eight 

 to fourteen white eggs, delicately marked with red fpots, which 

 are ufually moft numerous at the largeft end, the fpots are 

 not conftant, as w T e have a neft containing thirteen eggs, nine 

 of which are fpotted, and the remaining four quite plain. 



The Wren is common throughout the kingdom, in winter 

 it frequents gardens, and feeks fhelter in out-buildings ; at 

 that feafon it is very familiar, it braves the fevered: weather, 

 and like the golden-crefted wren, is frequently to be heard 



finging 



