OUR STORY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 203, 23 August 1940, Page 7

OUR STORY

THE FARTHING WREX < This is a story from England which I'm sure all my readers' will like. 'Little Jennie Wren should be one of the happiest birds in the 'world to-day, because it is her portrait that has been chosen to decorate one of the new coins of King George VI. The coin is only a farthing certainly—but it is a great honour, nevertheless. Many people are wondering why a wren was chosen. Some say it was because the little bird has been known as "Royal Wren" or ''Iv.Eng of Birds" since Saxon times, and that in Germany its name "Zwan Konig" means Hedge King. Others say it is because of an old story. Once upon a time, the story goes, the birds set forth to choosc a king, and decided that the bird who could fly the highest should lie thus honoured. Up they all sailed into the air—the darting sparrows, the singing' larks, the hovering kestrels. Higher and higher they soared, until one outstripped them all —the great eagle on his widespread pinions. '"The Eagle has won! The Eagle is King!" they all cried. But at thall moment a burst of triumphant song surprised them. It came from the throat of a tiny wren, perched on the eagle's head, which had managed to creep, unnoticed, 011 to the great bird's back and so had been borne aloft. It is quite possible that this old IT!Ne has led, to the Avren, and not the eagle, being known as the King of Birds, and thus probably explains why the wren is -shown on the new farthing. There are many true stories about wrens and their lovable little habits. We often hear tales of them nesting in old boots and; other quecp places, and in winter they snuggle into haystacks and creep like little mice into all kinds of odd corners to gel away from the cold. Here is a true story showing how clever wrens are at making themselves at home. I will tell it ,to you just as it was told to me. "The manse was built only a few years ago," my friend said, "and ever since, a pair of house-martins have paid us an annual visit, making a cosy summer home for themselves in a sunny corner of the bedroom window. During the winter

their home remained empty, a silent, forsaken dwelling, reminding lis of warm days that were gone, and of twittering voices that early i and late used to delight us. Then an unusual thing happened. "We Were sitting in the drawing room, close to the Avindow, one afternoon in February, when a wren appeared, followed by another and another until we had counted seven, each in turn creeping into the martins' nest to spend the night! "I have often heard of the 'spare' nest wrens build for themselves as a resort for inclement weather in the sumjnier, but it was a new experience for me actually to see the little fellows making use of another bird's nest for protection in winter"