wrp:n. 
571 
bare overhanging’ bough, and I have now before me one built in the 
small upper spray of a hawthorn, though it will be found, perhaps, more 
commonly still, sheltered under the projecting side of a haystack, or the 
overhanging thatch of a cottage eave.* 
This species weighs about two drams and three-quarters ; length 
near four inches and a quarter. The bill is slender, full half an inch in 
length, a little curved, and of a dusky brown-colour ; irides dark hazel; 
the head, neck, and upper parts of the body, are of a deep reddish 
brown, obscurely marked with transverse dusky lines ; over the eye a 
light-coloured streak ; quills and tail dusky brown ; the former spotted 
on the outer webs with light brown, the latter crossed with dusky black 
lines ; the under parts light rufous brown ; the sides and thighs crossed 
with darker lines ; under tail coverts obscurely spotted with black and 
white ; legs pale brown. 
The food of this species is insects, which it finds in sufficient abun- 
dance to support life, even in the severest winters. 
In the instance of the red-breast, the hedge-sparrow, {Accentor 
modularise Bechstein), and the Wren, one can scarcely imagine how 
any of the species survive the winter, were it no more than the diffi- 
culty of procuring food. Selby, indeed, has observed Wrens to perish 
in severe winters, particularly when accompanied with great falls of 
snow. Under these circumstances,” he says, “ they retire for shelter 
into holes of walls, and to the eaves of corn and haystacks ; and I have 
frequently found the bodies of several together in old nests, which 
they had entered for additional warmth and protection during severe 
storms.” * 
*My friend, Allan Cunningham, Esq., tells me that he once found 
several Wrens in the hole of a wall, rolled up into a sort of ball, for the 
purpose, no doubt, of keeping one another warm during the night ; 
and though such circumstances are only observed by accident, I think 
it very likely to be nothing uncommon among such small birds as have 
little power of generating, or retaining heat in cold weather. This 
very circumstance, indeed, was observed by the older naturalists. 
Speaking of Wrens, the learned author of the PliysiccB Curiosce says, 
they crowd into a cave during winter, to increase their heat by com- 
panionship : — “ Multi uno specu in hyeme conduntur, ut parvus in 
tarn minutis corporihus calor societate augeatur.”^ The value of this 
author’s testimony, however, may be estimated by his adding, that 
when Wrens are put upon a spit to roast, it turns of its own accord, — 
^ Illustrations of Brit. Ornith. i. 197. 
^ Phys. CuriosaB, p. 1249. 
