THE RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 



RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 



A. O. U. No. 749. Regulus calendula (Linn.). 



Description. — Adult male : Above olive-green, duller before, brightening 

 to greenish yellow on edgings of quills and tail-feathers ; a partly concealed crest 

 of scarlet (flame-scarlet to scarlet-vermilion); two narrow, whitish wing-bars 

 formed by tips of middle and greater coverts ; some whitish edging on tertials ; 

 a dusky interval separating greenish yellow edges on outer webs of secondaries; 

 a whitish eye-ring and whitish skirtings around base of bill ; under parts soiled 

 white, heavily tinged with buffy and olivaceous-buff. Adult female and immature : 

 Similar but without crown-patch. Length 4.00-4.50 ( 101. 6-1 14.3 ) ; wing 2.33 

 (59.2) ; tail 1.72 (43.7) ; bill from nostril .25 (6.4). 



Recognition Marks. — Pygmy size; scarlet crest distinctive. Note wing- 

 bars and whitish eye-ring of female and young. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, semi-pensile; of moss, fine bark- 

 strips, etc., neatly interwoven, lined with feathers ; in coniferous trees at mod- 

 erate heights. Eggs, 5-9, dull white or pale buffy, faintly speckled or spotted 

 with light brown, chiefly at the larger end. Av. size, .55 x .43 1 14. x 10.9) 

 (Davie). 



General Range. — North America at large, south to Guatemala, north to the 

 Arctic Coast, breeding chiefly north of the United States and in the higher ranges 

 of the West. 



Range in Ohio. — Common spring and fall migrant. 



"Where's your kingdom, little king? 

 Where's the land you call your own? 

 Where's your palace and your throne? 

 Fluttering lightly on the wing 

 Through the N< ssom world of May. 

 Whither lies your royal way? 

 Where's the realm that owns your sway. 

 Little King?" 



Dr. Henrv Wan Dyke i-- the questioner, and the little bird has a ready 

 answer for him. It is "Labrador" in May. and 



"Where the express' vivid green 

 Ami the dark magnolia's sheen 

 Weave a shelter round my home" 



