The Wren is common and
resident in all the Islands, and very generally distributed, being
almost as common amongst the wild rocks on the coast as in the inland
parts. On the 7th of July, 1878, I found a Wren's nest amongst some of
the wildest rocks in the Island; the hinder part of the nest was wedged
into a small crevice in the rock very firmly, the nest projecting and
apparently only just stuck against the face of the rock. A great deal of
material had been used, and the nest, projecting from the face of the
rock as it did, looked large, and when I first caught sight of it I
thought I might have hit upon an old Water Ouzel's nest. On getting
close, however, I found it was only a Wren's, with young birds in it. I
visited this nest several times, and saw the old bird feeding her young.
I could not, however, quite make out what she fed them with, but I think
with insects caught amongst the seaweed and tangle amongst the rocks.
After the young were flown I took this nest, and was astonished to find,
when it was taken out of the crevice, how much material had been used in
wedging it in, and how firmly it was attached to the rock. This was
certainly necessary to keep it in its place in some of the heavy gales
that sometimes happen even at that time of year; in a very heavy
north-westerly gale it would hardly have been clear of the wash of the
waves at high water.

The Wren is included in Professor Ansted's list, but marked as only
occurring in Guernsey. There is no specimen in the Museum.

46. TREE-CREEPER. _Certhia familiaris_, Linnaeus. French, "Grimpereau,"
"Grimpereau familier."--The Tree-creeper is resident and not uncommon in
all the Islands, except perhaps Alderney, in which Island I have never
seen it. In Guernsey it may be seen in most of the wooded parts, and
frequently near the town, in the trees on the lawns at Candie, Castle
Carey, and in the New Ground. I have never seen it take to the rocks
near the sea, like the Wren.

It is mentioned in Professor Ansted's list, and marked as occurring in
Guernsey and Sark. There is no specimen in the Museum.

47. GREAT TIT. _Parus major_, Linnaeus. French, "Mesange
Charbonniere."--The Paridae are by no means well represented in the
Islands, either individually or as to number of species; and the
Guernsey gardeners can have very little cause to grumble at damage done
to the buds by the Tits. The Great Tit is moderately common and resident
in Guernsey, but by no means