THE RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 267 



but it would seem at least possible thai fall l:)ir(l troops cousist (jf the comljiued 

 families of Mr. and Mrs. Quiverful. 



As to the time of home-making, the Kinglets are not \-ery particular. 

 Nor is it necessary that they should be. It is always spring here after the first 

 of February. Besides that, a fir tree is both forest and store-house at any 

 season. In the \'icinity of Tacoma, the usual nesting time is the last week 

 in April for the first set. and the second week in June for the second. The 

 earliest record is April oth. that of a nest containing half-grown voung. The 

 first egg of this set must, therefore, ha\-e been deposited about March 15th. 



So far as we can make out. this bird is strictly resident in western Wash- 

 ington, but it is much less common on the east side of the Cascades, and is 

 there largely migratory. Not only does the species retire in winter from the 

 mountains to the lower foot-hills, but considerable numl.iers pass o\-er the 

 State to and from British Columbia. At such times they appear wherever 

 timber or watered shrubbery is to be f(iund. With manners so engaging and 

 lives so sheltered, to say nothing of families so blessed in the vearlv increase, 

 is it any wonder that the gentle tribe of Rcgidus pre\-ails thruout the giant 

 forests of this western slope, and spills over in blessing wherever trees abound? 



No. 104. 



RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 



.\. T). U. No. 749. Regulus calendula (Linn.). 



Description. — Adult male: Above olive-green, duller anteriorly, brightening 

 to greenish yellow on edgings of quills and tail-feathers; a partly concealed crest 

 of scarlet (flame-scarlet to scarlet-vermilion) ; two narrow, whitish wing-bars 

 formed by tips of middle and greater coverts: some whitish edging on tertials ; 

 a dusky interval separating greenish j-ellow edges on outer webs of secondaries; 

 a whitish eye-ring and whitish skirtings around base of bill ; under ])arts soiled 

 white, heavily tinged with buffy and olivaceous buff. Adult female and iininaiiire: 

 Similar but without crown-patch. Length 4.00-4.50 ( loi. 6-1 14.3) ; wing 2.33 

 (59.2); tail 1.72 (43.7); bill from nostril .25 (6.4). 



Recognition Marks. — Pygmy size ; scarlet crest distinctive. Note wing-bars 

 and whitisii eye-ring of female and young. Lighter than R. c. grinnelli. 



Nesting. — Nest: a ball of moss, lichens, etc., bound together with cobwebs, 

 and lashed to drooping twigs beneath branch of conifer, lined with vegetable- 

 down, catkins, hair, and feathers, and placed at moderate heights. Egi/s: 5-9, dull 

 white, or pale buffy, faintly or sharply but sparingly speckled with reddish brown, 

 chiefly about larger end. Av. size, .55 x .43 (14x10.9). Season: June; one 

 brood ( ?). 



General Range. — North America at large in wooded districts, north to limit 



