THE COMMON WREN. 
349 
are composed of the nestlings of the previous year, with perhaps 
the parent birds; but I have no proof of the fact beyond its 
probability. If such be the case, however, it would show that 
the bond of social union between the parent birds and their young 
continues unbroken during the year, and is severed only when the 
new season prompts the young brood to become parents in 
their turn.” 
On the yard-wall before my window in the country a wren once 
appeared, on the 23rd of September, singing with such extraor- 
dinary loudness, as immediately to attract other birds to the spot. 
First came a hedge-sparrow to buffet it, followed by a male and 
female chaffinch, also with sinister intent; but bold as Fitz James, 
“ Come one, come all, this wall shall fly 
From its firm base as soon as I,” 
it maintained its position against them all, and sang away as 
fiercely as ever, its wings and tail drooping all the time. A robin 
too alighted beside the songster, but, unlike the others, did not 
seek to disturb it. For this strange proceeding on the part of 
the wren there was no apparent cause. The uproar this species 
keeps by the loud utterance and repetition of its call chit* when 
a cat appears in its vicinity is well known, and is of service to 
other birds by warning them of the presence of their enemy. 
Smith, in his History of Cork, written about a century ago, 
remarks , — “ as the wren makes but short flights, and when driven 
from the hedges is easily run down, to hunt and kill him is an 
ancient custom of the Irish on St. Stephen's day.” Mr. R. Ball 
considers that f 1 r this persecution of the bird in the south is falling 
into disuse, like other superstitious ceremonies.”! “ To hunt the 
wren is a favourite pastime of the peasantry of Kerry, on Christ- 
mas day. This they do, each using two sticks, one to beat the 
bushes, the other to fling at the bird. It was the boast of an old 
* Hence popularly called ‘ chi tty wren ’ in Ireland. Jenny wren is another 
popular name. 
t This gentleman remarks, that the hedge-sparrow ( Accentor modularis ) is called 
wreris-man in the south of Ireland, and that it often falls a sacrifice to the hunters 
of the wren. 
