414 REGULUS AURICAPILLUS. 



fed by the female alone, whose visits " were generally repeated 

 in the space of a minute and a half or two minutes, or, upon 

 an average, thirty-six times in an hour ; and this continued 

 full sixteen hours in a day, which, if equally divided between 

 the eight young ones, each would receive seventy-two feeds in 

 the day ; the whole amounting to 576. From examination of 

 the food, which by accident now and then dropped into the 

 nest, 1 judged from those weighed, that each feed was a quarter 

 of a grain upon an average ; so that each young one was sup- 

 plied with eighteen grains weight in a day ; and as the young 

 birds weighed about seventy-two grains at the time they began 

 to perch, they consumed nearly their weight of food in four 

 days at that time."" 



The following observations, sent to me by my friend Mr 

 Hepburn, a very zealous young ornithologist, are characteristic 

 as to the habits of this species. " The Golden-crested Wren 

 is common in our woods and fir plantations. It also frequents 

 our hedge-rows and gardens, more particularly during the win- 

 ter. The activity of this little bird is surprising : it will alight 

 on the branch of a tall tree in the copse, and after a momen- 

 tary survey, it will dart at its prey reposing on the back of the 

 stem, suspend itself for a moment by a rapid motion of its 

 wings, then return to a branch, again glance at the stem and 

 flit to it. In this manner it gradually mounts to the top of the 

 tree, and, should its prey prove to be plentiful, it will ascend and 

 descend several times in succession, occasionally darting into 

 the air at some unwary gnat sporting in the beams of the win- 

 ter sun. Judging from their manner of capturing their prey, 

 I think live insects must form their principal food. Some- 

 times they will descend and hop on the ground for some min- 

 utes. In a fine day their notes are heard incessantly. They 

 resemble the cheep of a mouse, the chir-r-r of the Blue Tit, 

 and the if-hee if-hee of the Coal Tit. Their Song, which this 

 year, 1889, I heard first on the 28th February, is weak, yet 

 very sweet." 



It is really astonishing that these diminutive birds should be 

 able to withstand the rigours of our climate, especially in such 

 elevated districts as the upper parts of the valleys of the Spey 



