76 HIRUS OK ILLINOIS. 



The delifiite little Golden-crowned Kinjjilet — smaller even than the 

 Ruby-crown — ib known in IJlinois. and indeed in all portions of the 

 United States, except the northern coniferous woods and siuiihir 

 forests of the higher mountains, only as a winter visitant or resi- 

 dent, lie is most often seen during clear frosty mornings in mid- 

 winter, and seems particularly in his element when the trees are 

 decked with an icy covering of sleet — when the woods appear like 

 fairy land, and the pure crisp air instills fresh vigor to those who 

 sally forth to enjoy its exliilianiting inllnence. Then the little 

 Gold-crests may be seen in woods or parks in scattered troops, nim- 

 bly hunting among the crystal branches, now hanging in Titmouse 

 fashion, then dropping to another limb, and carelessly hopping 

 about, apparently not feeling the contact of the ice with their tiny 

 feet. At such times none of our birds are tamer tlian these dainty 

 little creatures and none certainly more lovely. They come aliout 

 the intruder as if utterly unmindful of his jiresence, often so near 

 that the sparkle of the little black eye, the Hash of the glowmg 

 orange crown, and every detail of bis pretty plumage can be 

 plainly seen. 



In its northern summer home, the (iuld-crest is said to have an 

 agreeable though delicate song, far inferior, however, to that of the 

 Ruby-crown. In winter, its usual note is a delicate wiry chirp, im- 

 possible to express in writing, but nearly if not quite undistinguisha- 

 ble from the ordinary note of the Brown Creeper. 



According to Mr. Coiile, it is a "very common migrant" in Cook 

 county. "Ever active and uttering a tc-t:c, tze-tze as they Hy into 

 every nook and corner of the foliage of trees." 



Regulus calendula iMim.) 



ROBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 



Popular synonyms.— Ruby-crowned Wren. 



MotaciUa cuUiutiilit LlNN. N. N. od. 12. i. ITrt;. ;H7. 

 Si/li'ia i-aleniluin Lath. Ind. Orn. II. I7K0. .1l!l.— WiLs. Am. Orn. 1. 1S08. Sf. pi. S. lie. ». 

 /fpOH/Hji (■a/i>»</ii'(( LiciiT. Vorz. Doiilil. 1S2S.— Ni'TT. Man. 1. 1«J, 415.— Ai'D. Orn. Bloc. 

 11. ISM, 5W, pi. 195: Synop. lSi!>. St: B. Am. 11 ISU, lt!8, pi. i:«.— lUutD, B. N. Am. \X<».. 

 226; Cut. N. Am. B. \X,9, No. liJI; Uuvlow. IStM. 6ti.— CoUES, Key. 18Ti 78: Clit-ck List. 

 1873. No. i;i: LM ed. 1S.S2, No. ;«: B. N. W. 1S71. 15; B. Col. Viil. 1S78, 9J.-B. B. & I!. Hist. 

 N. Am. B. 1. 187«, 75. pi. 5, llR. 9.-KiD0\v. Nom. N. Am. B. IWl, .No. W. 

 Hab. The whole of North Amoricn, breodlncclilelly north of the United States, bill 

 south to Colorado, lit least. In the Rocky Mountains: wintering in the more southern United 

 States, and thenco to Mexico and Gautemala. (Accidental in Europe and Greenland.) 



