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Webster 1913 Edition


Wren

Wren

(rĕn)
,
Noun.
[OE.
wrenne
, AS.
wrenna
,
wrænna
, perhaps akin to
wrǣne
lascivious.]
1.
(Zool.)
Any one of numerous species of small singing birds belonging to
Troglodytes
and numerous allied of the family
Troglodytidae
.
☞ Among the species best known are the house wren (
Troglodytes aedon
) common in both Europe and America, and the American winter wren (
Troglodytes hiemalis
). See also
Cactus wren
,
Marsh wren
, and
Rock wren
, under
Cactus
,
Marsh
, and
Rock
.
2.
(Zool.)
Any one of numerous species of small singing birds more or less resembling the true wrens in size and habits.
☞ Among these are several species of European warblers; as, the reed wren (see
Reed warbler
(a)
, under
Reed
), the sedge wren (see
Sedge warbler
, under
Sedge
), the willow wren (see
Willow warbler
, under
Willow
), the golden-crested wren, and the ruby-crowned wren (see
Kinglet
).
Ant wren
,
any one of numerous South American birds of the family
Formicaridae
, allied to the ant thrushes.
–
Blue wren
,
a small Australian singing bird (
Malurus cyaneus
), the male of which in the breeding season is bright blue. Called also
superb warbler
.
–
Emu wren
.
See in the Vocabulary.
–
Wren babbler
,
any one of numerous species of small timaline birds belonging to
Alcippe
,
Stachyris
,
Timalia
, and several allied genera. These birds are common in Southern Asia and the East Indies.
–
Wren tit
.
See
Ground wren
, under
Ground
.
–
Wren warbler
,
any one of several species of small Asiatic and African singing birds belonging to
Prinia
and allied genera. These birds are closely allied to the tailor birds, and build their nests in a similar manner. See also
Pincpinc
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Wren

WREN

,
Noun.
A small bird of the genus Motacilla.