90 



The Fire-Crested Wren. 



the Fire-crest utilizes these also in the outer walls; in all probability this is done 

 simply because the material is at hand; not, as has been suggested, with an}- idea 

 of imitating the surroundings of the nest, with a view to its concealment. That 

 the use of that which is most easily obtainable, because nearest, does often greatly 

 add to the difficul}' of discovering a nest b}- the inexperienced collector, nobodj' 

 will deny; but to credit the little architect with deliberate design in the use of 

 such material is, in my opinion, utter nonsense: indeed I have seen the nest of a 

 Chaffinch in a hedge rendered most conspicuous by a covering of lichen from 

 the trunk of a tree a 3'ard or two behind it, and a Wren's nest built of coarse 

 dead grass and standing out prominently^ from the moss}' trunk of a tree : both 

 of these nests are in ni}- collection. 



Speaking of the habits of the Fire-crest, Seebohm sa3'S : — " Their presence is 

 at once betra3-ed by their soft notes, a monotonous zit-zit, which is continually 

 uttered as the}' are busily employed feeding on insects under the leaves of the 

 overhanging trees, and becomes a rapid z-z-z-zit as they chase each other from tree 

 to tree, or fly off in alarm at your movements. If you remain perfectly still they 

 will sometimes come and feed close to you, occasionally two or three of them 

 within a few feet of your head. It is very curious then to watch their movements. 

 They twist in and out among the slender twigs, sometimes with head down and 

 sometimes with feet up ; but by far the most curious part of the performance is 

 when they come to the end of the twig and examine the under surface of the 

 leaves at its extremity. They have nothing to stand upon ; so they flutter more 

 like bees than birds from leaf to leaf, their little wings beating so fast that they 

 look transparent, their bodies all the time being nearly perpendicular. Of course 

 it is only on large-leafed oaks, and the shrubs that form the underwood in the 

 garden, that you can examine them closely. In the pine-forest, when all the 

 branches for twenty feet are broken off for fuel, you require a glass to see them 

 well." (British Birds, vol. i, p. 459). 



Seebohm quotes the following from Dixon's Algerian notes on this species: — 

 " The trees are full of life. Here in close company with the rare Algerian Coal 

 Tit, the Fire-crest is very common. It is seen in the tall cedar trees, and is 

 restless and busy amongst the branches fifty feet above, exploring all the twigs in 

 search of its favourite food. The Fire-crest is also almost as common in the 

 evergreen-oak forests, searching the lower branches all amongst the lichens and 

 tree-moss for insects ; and every now and then its brilliant crest glistens conspic- 

 uously in the sunlight. Its note sounds shriller to me than a Gold-crest's ; but 

 I think it was quite as familiar and trustful as that other little favourite bird of 

 mine. In its motions it puts you in mind of the Willow Wrens ; and when, as I 



