74 BRITISH BIRDS 



other naturalists.' I have observed the male, in the love season, 

 hovering just above the bush, in the topmost foliage of which its 

 mate was perched, and partially hidden from view. It is when en. 

 gaged in this pretty, aerial performance, or love-dance, that the 

 golden-crested wren is at his best. The restless, minute, sober- 

 coloured creature, so difficult to see properly at other times, then 

 becomes a conspicuous and exceedingly beautiful object ; it hovers 

 on rapidly- vibrating wings, the body in almost a vertical position, 

 but the head bent sharply down, the eyes being fixed on the bird 

 beneath, while the wide-open crest shines in the sun like a crown 

 or shield of fiery yellow. When thus hovering it does not sing, but 

 emits a series of sharp, excited, chirping sounds. 



The goldcrest builds a pendent nest, made fast to the small twigs 

 under a branch of yew or fir, and uses a variety of materials — fine 

 dry grass, leaves, moss, and webs — closely woven together, lining the 

 cavity with featliers. It is a very ingenious and pretty structure. 

 The eggs laid are from six to ten, of a pale yellowish white, spotted 

 and blotched, cliiefly at the large end, with reddish brown. 



In the autumn, in the months of October and November, a great 

 migratory movement takes place among the goldcrests in the north 

 of Europe ; and in some seasons incredible numbers of these small 

 travellers arrive, often in an exhausted condition, in Northumberland 

 and on the east coast of Scotland. After resting close to the sea for 

 a day or two, they resimie their journey, and distribute themselves 

 over the country. 



The firecrest {Regulus ignicajoillus), which closely resembles 

 the species just described, is an accidental visitor from the continent 

 of Europe. 



Chiffchaff. 



Phylloscopus rufus. 



Upper plumage olive-green tinged with yellow ; above the eye a 

 faint yellowish white streak ; under parts yellowish white ; feathers 

 of the leg greyish white. Length, four inches and three-quarters. 



The chiffchaff, although his song is so simple— the simplest 

 Bong of aU — and after a time is apt to become wearisome from in- 

 cessant repetition, is, nevertheless, one of the most welcome visitors 

 of the early spring ; for this small bird, in spite of its smallness 



