THE WRENS. 
3 J 7 
with a few reddish-brown spots, intermixed with tin)' dots, 
and generally congregated at the larger end, while in some 
specimens the dots are sprinkled all over the egg. Axis 
o' 6 S “°7 inch; diam., 0-5 -0-55. (Plate xxx., fig. 4.) 
THE S. KILDA WREN. ANORTHURA HORTENSIS. 
Troglodytes hirtensis , Seebohm, Zoologist, 1884, p. 333; id. 
Br. B , iii., p. 661 (1885). 
Adult Male. — Similar to A. troglodytes , but larger. It is sup- 
posed to be more distinctly barred on the upper surface, and 
to have the throat and breast free from any spots. Culmen, 
0-55; wing, 2*i ; tail, 1-5; tarsus, 075. 
Note. — The larger size of the eggs of the S. Kilda Wren is the only 
test of the difference between it and the bird of the mainland, which we 
are able to recognise. The characters of the barred back and the un- 
spotted throat are not really features for the separation of the island form, 
as they are equally found in examples from other parts of Europe. 
Habits. — Mr. Dixon, who brought from S. Kilda the speci- 
mens originally described by Mr. Seebohm, gives the following 
account of the bird : — “ I had not been on S. Kilda long 
before the little bird arrested my attention, as it flew from rock 
to rock, or glided in and out of the crevices of the walls. It 
differs very little in its habits from its congener ; only, instead 
of hopping restlessly and incessantly about brushwood, it has 
to content itself with boulders and walls. It was in full song, 
and its voice seemed to me louder and more powerful than 
that of the Common Wren. I often saw it within a few feet of 
the sea, hopping about the rocks on the beach ; and a pair 
had made their nest in the wall below the manse, not thirty 
yards from the waves. I also saw it frequently on the tops of 
the hills, and in many parts of the cliffs. It was especially 
common on Doon, and its cheery little song sounded from all 
parts of the rocks. 
“As there are no bushes nor trees on S. Kilda (except 
those the microscopic eye of a botanist might discover), the 
Wren takes to the luxuriant grass, sorrel, and other herbage 
growing on the cliffs, and picks its insect food from them. It 
also catches spiders and the larvse of different insects in the 
nooks and crannies which it is incessantly exploring. It is a 
pert, active little bird, by no means shy ; and I used to watch 
