THE WESTERN GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. 



263 



"GOOD things conie (lime up in small packages," my college chum used 

 to sav (speaking, c^f course, of la fcinuic petite), and that was before he knew 

 the Golden-crowned Kinglet. Indeed, it is surprising how few people do 

 know this amiable little nionarch ; ami yet, I suppose, he is b_\' all odds the most 

 abundant bird in Washington. To one who seeks the honor of his acquaint- 

 ance, he pro\-es a most delightful friend: but he has his little luodesties and 

 reserves, becoming to a potentate, so that a thousand of him would never be 

 "common," nor ]iall upon the senses. 



Kinglets go in trcjupes, famil)' parties, which keep a little to themselves 

 o r d i n a r i ly ; 

 altho Chick- 

 adees a II d 

 Nuthatches, 

 or even 

 Creepers 

 and \\''rens, 

 are welcome 

 messmates, 

 in the friend 

 ly winter 

 time. Ever- 

 green trees, 

 exclusively, 

 are frequent- 

 ed, e.xcept 

 during mi- 

 grations up- 

 on the EaSt- 

 side where 

 the favorite 



cover is lacking, antl the real abundance of the Ijirds at all seasons is coex- 

 tensive with that of the Douglas Spruce ( Pseiidotsiiga doiitjiasi). With 

 tireless energy they search both bark and branches for insects' eggs and lar\'a? 

 scarce visible to the human e3'e. The\' peer about incessantl}-, bending and 

 darting and twisting and squirming, now hanging head downward, if need be, 

 now fluttering prettily against the under side of the branch above : but always 

 on the go, imtil frequentlv one despairs of catching fair sight of the crown 

 for the necessary fraction of a second. Of course it's a Golden-crown; but, 

 then, we want to see it. 



And all the time Cutikins is carrving on an amiable conversation with his 



Taken in Rjiiiicr Xational Park. 



From a Fhntogrnplt Co/^yriglit, 190S, by IV. L. Dtiwson. 

 THE UNVEILING. 



A FAVORITE HAUNT OF THE KINGLET. 



