350 
CERTHIAM. 
man who lately died at the age of 100, that he had hunted the 
wren for the last 80 years on Christmas day. On St. Stephen's 
day, the children exhibit the slaughtered birds on an ivy-bush 
decked with ribbons of various colours, and carry them about 
singing the well-known song commencing 
c The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,’ &c. 
and thus collect money."* In Dr. Wm. H. Drummond's Eights 
of Animals, the cruelty practised towards the wren in the south 
of Ireland (in the north the practice is unknown) is dwelt upon, 
and a tradition narrated, attributing its origin to political motives. 
In the first number of Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall's Ireland, a very 
full and well-told account of the “ hunting of the wren " appears.! 
* Mr. T. F. Neligan, 1837. 
f “ As to the origin of the whimsical, but absurd and cruel custom [of hunting 
the wren] we have no data. A legend, however, is still current among the peasantry 
which may serve in some degree to elucidate it. 
“ In a grand assembly of all the birds of the air, it was determined that the sove- 
reignty of the feathered tribe, should be conferred upon the one who would fly highest. 
The favourite in the betting-book was of course the eagle, who at once, and in full 
confidence of victory, commenced his flight towards the sun ; when he had vastly 
distanced all competitors, he proclaimed with a mighty voice his monarchy over all 
things that had wings. Suddenly, however, the wren who had secreted himself under 
the feathers of the eagle’s crest, popped from his hiding-place, flew a few inches up- 
wards, and chirped out as loudly as he could : ‘ Birds, look up and behold your king ! ’ 
“ There is also a tradition that in ‘ ould ancient times,’ when the native Irish were 
about to catch their Danish enemies asleep, a wren perched upon the drum and woke 
the slumbering sentinels just in time to save the whole army ; in consequence of 
which, the little bird was proclaimed a traitor, outlawed, and his life declared forfeit 
whenever he was henceforward encountered.” — Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall’s Ireland, 
vol. i. p. 25. 
The lines according to the same work, are : — 
“ The wran, the wran, the king of all birds, 
St. Stephen’s day was cot in the furze ; 
Although he is little, his family’s grate. 
Put your hand in your pocket, and give us a trate. 
Sing holly, sing ivy, — sing ivy, sing holly, 
A drop just to drink, it would drown melancholy. 
And if you dhraw it ov the best, 
I hope in heaven yer sowl will rest, 
But if you dhraw it ov the small, 
It wont agree wid de wran boys at all.” — p. 24. 
The subject has even been dramatised, or at least, selected for the title of a drama. 
It was lately (Sept. 1848) posted on the walls of Belfast, as about to be performed at 
“ one of the minor theatres.” Having a desire to see the nature of the piece, the 
manager’s copy was kindly placed at my service. The title is “ The Wren Boys : or 
the Moment of Peril ; an original drama, in two acts. By Thomas Egerton Wilks, 
Esq. * * * Author of & c., &c. As performed at the London Theatres.” 
