Species II. SYLVIA CALENDULA. 



RUBY-CROWNED WREN. 



[Plate V. Fig. 3.] 



Le Roitelet Ruhis, Buff, v., 373. — Edw. 254. — Lath. Syn. ii., 511. — Arct. Zool. 

 320. — Regulus cristafus alter vertice ruhini coloi'is, Bartram, p. 292.* 



This little bird visits us early in the spring from the south, and is 

 generally first found among the maple blossoms, about the beginning of 

 April. These failing, it has recourse to those of the peach, apple and 

 other fruit trees, partly for the tops of the sweet and slender stamina 

 of the flowers, and partly for the winged insects that hover among them. 

 In the middle of summer I have rarely met with these birds in Penn- 

 sylvania ; and as they penetrate as far north as the country round Hud- 

 son's Bay, and also breed there, it accounts for their late arrival here 

 in fall. They then associate with the different species of Titmouse, and 

 the Golden-crested Wren ; and are particularly numerous in the month 

 of October and beginning of November in orchards, among the decay- 

 ing leaves of the apple trees, that at that season are infested with great 

 numbers of small, black, winged insects, among which they make great 

 havoc. I have often regretted the painful necessity one is under of 

 taking away the lives of such inoffensive useful little creatures, merely 

 to obtain a more perfect knowledge of the species ; for they appear so 

 busy, so active and unsuspecting, as to continue searching about the 

 same twig, even after their companions have been shot down beside them. 

 They are more remarkably so in autumn ; which may be owing to the 

 great number of young and inexperienced birds which are then among 

 them ; and frequently at this season I have " stood under the tree, mo- 

 tionless, to observe them, while they gleaned among the low branches, 

 sometimes within a foot or two of my head. They are extremely adroit 

 in catching their prey ; have only at times a feeble chirp ; visit the tops 

 of the tallest trees as well as the lowest bushes ; and continue generally 

 for a considerable time among the branches of the same tree, darting 

 about from place to place ; appearing, when on the top of a high maple, 

 no bigger than humble-bees. 



* The following synonymes may be added : — Motacilla calendula, Linn, i., p. 337. 

 — Gmel. Sjisl. I., p. 994. — Sylvia calendula, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii., p. 549. — Regulus 

 rubineu^, Vieillot, Ois. de V Am. Sept. pi. 104, male ; 105, young, given as female. 



(165) 



