Eureka Reporter | 1906-03-02 | Page 5 | Superstitions About the Wren

superstitions about the wren in many parts of ireland it Is said wrens are hunted and killed at christ mas time some antiquarians declare that the wren was held in so high esteem by the druids that the early christian missionaries gave orders that it should be relentlessly hunted down during the christmas festival the usual story told in the north of ireland however affirms that the catholics hated the bird because on one occasion when king james II 11 was about to make a surprise at tad on the camp of william III a wren lighted on a drum and peck ed at it to so good effect as to waken an orange sentry and thus save the army to all appearances this is a mere fiction as wren bunting Is a manx as well as an irish custom in the isle ol 01 man it is related many fishermen will not set out to sea without a dead wren on board the presence of the dead bird is supposed to be a charm against shipwreck A london ornithologist has a plan