414 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 



This species is 5 inches long, and 7 in alar stretch. Above dull 

 greenish-olive; rump and tail-coverts bright yellow-olive. Feathers 

 of the head rather thick and orange at base ; tliis color only visible 

 when the feathers are elevated. Inferior tail-coverts pure yellow. 

 Primaries dark brown olive on the edges ; tail-feathers similar to 

 the quills, edged with white on the inner vanes. Bill dark horn-color. 

 Legs dusky. Iris dark brown. — Female nearly similar. 



REGULUS. (Crested Wrens.) 



In these birds the bill is short, straight, very slender, subulate^ 

 compressed from the base, and narrowed in the middle, furnished 

 with bristles at the base, and with the edges somewhat bent in ; the 

 upper mandible is slenderly notched, and a little curved at the tip. 

 Nostrils basal, oval, half closed by a membrane, and additionally 

 covered also with 2 small projecting, rigid, and decompound feathers. 

 TojVGUE bristly at the tip. The feet slender ; tarsus longer than 

 the middle toe } lateral toes nearly equal with each other ) the inner 

 one free ; the hind toe stoutest, and furnished with a larger and thick- 

 er nail. — Wings short, rather acute, with the spurious feather very 

 short ; the 3d and 4th primaries longest ; the 1st and 7th equal. 

 Tail notched. 



The female differs but little from the male; hui the. young are 

 considerably duller in color. They moult annually. The plumage 

 long and somewhat bristly ; the head is ornamented with a brilliant 

 spot on the crown. These are among the smallest of birds in tem- 

 perate climates, and withstand the rigor of winter, but migrate, as it 

 approaches, to more temperate countries. In summer they penetrate 

 into the arctic regions, and are possessed of great activity, being un- 

 weaiiedly diligent in pursuit of small flying insects, and in collecting 

 their eggs and larvae. Like the Titmouse, they are seen vaulting on 

 the extreme twigs of trees, and prying in all directions for their 

 lurking prey. The nest is constructed with great art, and affixed 

 to depending branches. They have one or two broods in the sea- 

 son ; and the eggs are sometimes as many as 12. — They inhabit 

 the north of both continents, migrating indifferently probably 

 through either, and are intermediately and closely allied both to 

 Sylvia and Parus. 



