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Dr. Arthur G. Butler



later from Southern Bussia. All arrived in perfect health and con¬

dition. They never associated entirely with the first bird, and a

week ago (April 7th) I should have said did nothing whatever but

walk and swim about in a closely packed flock, showing no desire to

pair or breed. Last Sunday, however, for the first time we found

several of them very obviously paired, the males, with their neck

feathers swelled out, warning off rival suitors ”*



THE GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN (Regulus


cr (status).


By Dr. Arthur G. Butler.


Although this is the smallest of our British birds, it is also one

of the most hardy. In the winter those of its species which remain

with us go about in flocks, and in frosty and snowy weather cluster

together like bees under yew or pine boughs. Cold alone would

probably not kill them, but a long frost, by depriving them of food,

would doubtless seriously affect them.


In the summer one sees the Gold-crest in pairs; I have

occasionally noticed it in my own garden, although it is more

frequently met with in woods, plantations and shrubberies where

conifers are plentiful, or in the foliage of yew-trees in cemeteries. It

is a charming, lively little bird, with a rather shrill, oft-repeated call-

note, and a short, low, but pleasing little song. When excited it

expands, but does not erect, the crest on its crown; indeed, I believe

it is not capable of erecting it as the Buntings of the genus Corypho-

spingus do their somewhat similarly placed carmine crests.


It is a strange thing that many bird artists do not take the

trouble to inquire into the habits of birds which they are asked to

depict; consequently, if they only have skins to draw from, they use

their own judgments often quite wrongly. As I have elsewhere

noted, the South American Grey Cardinals ( Pctroarm) are all repre-



* [We wish to tender our thanks to the Duchess of Bedford for kindly allowing us

to reproduce the coloured picture.—E d.]



