418 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 



a Fiery Crest (R. ignicapillus), and a ^/«/rr/ indigenous to 

 Asia, are very nearly related to the present ; the first 

 having been generally confounded with it, or considered 

 as a variety of the same species. Learned ornithologists 

 have referred our bird without hesitation to the Fiery- 

 crested Wren, with which, however, it only agrees in 

 the brilliance of the crown ; and, instead of being less, 

 is indeed larger than the true Golden-crested species. 

 Like the former, they appear associated only in pairs, 

 and are seen on their southern route, in this part of Mas- 

 sachusetts, a few days in October, and about the middle 

 of the month, or a little earlier or later according to the 

 setting in of the season, as they appear to fly before the 

 desolating storms of the northern regions whither they re- 

 tire about May to breed. Some of these birds remain in 

 Pennsylvania until December or January, proceeding 

 probably but little farther south during the winter. They 

 are not known to reside in any part of New England, 

 retiring probably to the same remote and desolate limits 

 of the farthest north with the preceding species^ of which 

 they have most of the habits. They are actively engaged 

 during their transient visits to the South in gleaning up 

 insects and their lurking larvae, for which they perambu- 

 late the branches of trees of various kinds, frequenting 

 gardens and orchards, and skipping and vaulting from 

 the twigs, sometimes head downwards like the Chica- 

 dee, with whom they often keep company, making only 

 now and then a feeble chirp. They appear at this time 

 to search chiefly after spiders and dormant concealed 

 coleopterous or shelly insects ; they are also said to feed 

 on small berries, and some kinds of seeds, which they 

 break open by pecking with the bill in the manner of 

 the Titmouse. They likewise frequent the sheltered ce- 

 dar and pine woods, in which they probably take up their 



