With nature and a camera

Chapter II. The birds and fowlers of St Kilda

The St Kilda wren

Whilst in Hirta I gave one bird particular attention, on account of the controversy which took place some years ago as to its claims to be considered a distinct species; and as I do not know any of the disputants except by repute, what I here put down may be taken as entirely unprejudiced either way. I refer to the Wren (Troglodytes parvulus) met with in St Kilda. It may be worth while to mention before going any further that I have been familiar with every note, movement, and attitude of its mainland representative all my life, as such experience naturally affects my value as an observant witness.

Wrens' eggs. The upper and larger eggs are those of the St Kilda Wren, the lower ones are those of the Mainland Wren.

[page 71]

I procured an adult male in St Kilda, and found that it measured, from the point of its bill to the tip of its tail, exactly four and a quarter inches, and a specimen of the same sex in the South of England which was four inches in length. The beak, legs, toes and claws of the St Kilda bird are a trifle stronger and lighter in colour, and the plumage generally much paler and more distinctly marked. This is especially noticeable on the back, which is barred transversely with greyish and dark brown where the mainland bird is reddish brown with indistinct bars of a darker hue.

Its carriage and appearance are somewhat different, as it rarely, if ever, cocks its tail at that acute angle so characteristic of the Common Wren. In fact, it more often carries it as much depressed as that of a quiescent Meadow Pipit, even when singing. Its song is of about the same duration as that of the mainland bird, viz. from five to six seconds; is louder, less metallic, and much oftener uttered on the wing. I sometimes heard it within a few inches of my ear whilst standing perfectly still in a cleit for purposes of observation. I never once heard that familiar jarring note of alarm or anger so common in other parts of the British Isles where Wrens are to be met with.

[page 72]

I examined five nests, two with eggs in, one lined with feathers ready to receive them, and two "cocks' nests." Both the latter I found myself; and as I had very good reason to believe that neither of them had been touched by human hands, I measured the aperture in each, and found it to be one and five-eighth inches in horizontal diameter; whereas the hole in similar nests examined in England is generally not more than one and one-sixteenth. I did not take any measurements from the nests with eggs in, as they had been investigated by large rough fingers, which had, of course, destroyed the scientific value of anything in the way of horizontal diameter. The nests are larger, constructed of rougher materials, and not so neatly made as those of mainland Wrens.

The eggs, although subject to the usual amount of variation in point of size, run larger, as will be seen from the illustration above, which has been prepared from a carefully-made photograph taken life-size with the camera directly over them, for purposes of comparison. My friend Mackenzie told me that although he has examined quite fifty nests during the time he has visited the island in the capacity of factor, he has never yet seen one containing more than six eggs. I have found nests in Yorkshire on more than one occasion containing seven and even eight.

St Kilda Wren

[page 73]

For purposes of comparison, we have also made a photograph of a mainland fledgling Wren of about the same age, and give the pictures herewith together.

Mainland Wren

Curiously enough the Eider Duck, whose average clutch is said on very good authority to number five eggs, and in whose nest I have myself seen as many as eight at the Farne Islands, never lays more than four at St Kilda, according to the natives, one of whom showed me a clutch with that number in it.