WOOD WREN. 



covered by a dull mournful sort of call, quite differ- 

 ent from that of any other bird." 



Though this bird does not nestle in trees, it 

 is always in their vicinity (says Mr. Mudie) : they 

 form its pasture, and it gives the preference to 

 such as are lofty. Its food consists of the cater- 

 pillars which curl, roll, or otherwise injure the 

 leaves of deciduous trees, and the flies and moths 

 by which these are deposited in the egg state, and 

 into which they are changed. Its short flights 

 from and to the tree are no doubt made for the 

 purpose of discovering the retreats of these cater- 

 pillars ; and its habits of thus beating round the 

 foliage of the tree agree with its structure as 

 being of a flying and not a leaping bird, as all 

 birds are which hunt among the stems and 

 branches.* 



The nest is placed on the ground in a thicket of 

 small bushes, and consists of moss and dry leaves, 

 with a covering at the top of the same materials, so 

 that it is scarcely possible to distinguish it without 

 watching the old birds' toil, either when they are 

 building or carrying food to their young. It is 

 invariably lined with fine grass, and a few long 

 hairs. The eggs are six in number, sprinkled all 

 over with purplish spots. In some these markings 

 are confluent, inclining to rust colour. 



This is not an uncommon species, having been 

 met with in most parts of the south of England and 

 Wales, and as far westward as Cornwall. It seems 



* Mudie's British Birds. 



