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COMMON WREN. 
(Motacilla Troglodytes.) 
Of British birds, the Wren, in all its varieties, 
though the smallest of our songsters, is doubtless the 
most interesting. When we consider its diminutive 
size, and hear its clear, sweet, simple strain, " stealing 
upon the gentle wing of some calm -breathing wind," 
we are almost tempted to fancy it caused by a magic 
power, did we not know and feel that He who gave 
strength to the eagle, equally dispenses his gifts to 
the smallest of his creatures. 
The common, wren is as pretty a bird as we can 
imagine it possible for the most skilful artist to pro- 
duce by a combination of brown in all its shadings, 
forming the most tastefully mottled plumage, with a 
bright and sparkling eye ; and when the wren is on 
her nest, I have seen that little bright eye glittering 
