BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



(5ol&crc6t 



67 



John DuNCAf/'. 



The Goldcrest {Regulus cristatus^ Koch) is a generally and 

 widely distributed resident throughout the British Isles in 

 suitable localities. It is also met with over the whole of 

 Europe, north to the Arctic Circle, and occurs in temperate 

 Asia as far east as the Amoor. The adult has the feathers 

 on crown bright golden orange, paler at sides and bordered 

 with black ; forehead, dingy olive ; lores, greyish-white ; 

 eye-stripe, cheeks, and throat, brownish-yellow ; upper 

 parts, olive-green ; primaries, greyish-brown, margined with 

 yellowish ; secondaries, black on lower parts and tipped 

 with whitish ; greater and median wing-coverts, margined 

 with white ; under parts, greenish-buff, becoming whiter on 

 abdomen ; tail, ash-brown, margined with yellowish ; irides, 

 brown; bill, dark brown; legs and feet, brown. Length, 

 about three inches. 



