GOLDCREST. I27 



their position, but so far, even as a winter visitor, the Goldcrest 

 remains rare, and is absent from most of its old nesting haunts. 

 It is, however, now reappearing. 



An attempt to separate the British bird from the European 

 race has not received general acceptance, and the birds we 

 meet with in Britain may be residents, "autumn and winter 

 visitors from northern Europe, summer visitors, for many of 

 our birds go south in autumn, or birds of passage. The long 

 oversea migration of the smallest European bird has always 

 caused wonder, but there is but slight difference between its 

 size and weight and that of many warblers, and an aerial 

 journey on a suitable air-current requires little extra exertion. 

 At times it meets with difficulties, adverse winds, and comes 

 down exhausted, whilst many perish at sea. 



The Goldcrest is, for the two-years' scarcity must be treated 

 as a passing phase, an inhabitant of fir woods in summer, but 

 in winter it wanders, joining with various tits and other birds ; 

 I have seen, on a Welsh hillside in January, fifty or more 

 Goldcrests and certainly a score of Wrens feeding in the 

 heather. Immigrants reach the east coast, sometimes in im- 

 mense numbers, in September and October, and in Yorkshire 

 they are considered as forerunners of the Woodcock, and are 

 known as " Woodcock pilots." At all times the Goldcrest is 

 indifferent to the presence of man, but these newly arrived 

 birds, even when showing no sign of fatigue, slip amongst the 

 marram grass and buckthorn at one's very feet ; I have reached 

 my hand to within an inch of two birds without their showing 

 any sign of alarm. When feeding, the Goldcrest calls con- 

 tinuously a shrill, penetrating though not loud, si^ sz, si, and 

 the simple song, the repetition of two notes, is high pitched, 

 but by no means inaudible. One variation of the song ot the 

 Ccal-Tit is not unlike it, though in a lower key and louder. 

 The song may be heard in winter as well as summer ; indeed, 

 August is the only month when I have no note of hearing it. 



