THE RUBY-CROWNED WREN. 37 



lashed, with ropes of .vegetable fibe. The fronds 

 of the fir form admirable sunshades, or umbrellas, 

 as circumstances may require. The inside is lined 

 with feathers, soft hair, and spiders' web the web 

 seems used for the purpose of warping the other 

 materials tightly together ; a partial dome covers 

 the top, under which is the entrance-hole. The 

 circumference of the nest is about nine inches. 

 Six is. about the usual number of eggs laid. 



In the valley of the Columbia the golden-crests 

 begin building in June, and on Vancouver Island 

 somewhat earlier. Tits and nuthatches generally 

 nest in holes, in the same tree the wren selects 

 for her pendant nursery. 



The general colouring of this handsome little 

 bird is yellowish-olive inclining to green, the 

 head being crowned with a tuft of bright golden- 

 orange feathers. Their song, soft and mellow, is 

 trilled out nervously, like the tremulous notes of 

 young Lady shaky, 011 her first vocal performance. 



A very frequent companion of the Tits is the 

 Ruby-crowned Wren (Regulus calendula^ some- 

 what larger than the Golden Crest, of a brighter 

 green on the back and neck, and more yellow 

 under the wings. The crown, instead of being 

 orange, is bright scarlet. I met with it on both 

 slopes of the Cascades. It resembles the golden- 



