on the Golden-crested Wren.



215



sented with defined and more or less erected crests, whereas P.

cucullata is the only species which possesses that character ; and the

Crested Mynah (Acridotheres cristcitellus ) in vol. xiii, p. 93, of the

Museum Catalogue, has been supplied with a solid, unbroken crest

from the middle of its bill to the back of its crown, whereas in the

live bird the crest is tripartite, commences at the terminal fourth of

its bill, where it is densest, and finishes at the back of the forehead.


However, to return to the Gold-crest, it is by no means a

nervous bird, and will permit one to get quite near to it before taking

flight, and it is a delightful little creature to watch as it examines the

twigs and branches of trees, shrubs, and creepers, in tit-like fashion,

when searching for insect food. I have at times stood within a foot

or two of it without disturbing it, so that one may consider it even

more confiding than the majority of Titmice, and almost as much so

as our friend the Robin.


The beautiful, soft little nest is usually suspended under a

branch of yew or fir, but sometimes in the middle of a furze-bush, or

against the sides of ivy-covered trees, in which case it is said to be

much less compact. The eggs, according to Lord Lilford, “ vary in

number from six or seven to ten or more ; I once found twelve in a

nest.” * Is it not possible that where so many eggs are found two

hens may have been concerned in their production ? I feel certain

that such is the case where more than six eggs are found in the nest

of the Great Tit, but then that bird is quite capable of murdering one

wife and taking on another.


The eggs of the Gold-crest are charming because of their small

size. In colour they are creamy-white, more or less densely dusted

with rust-red, often most densely at the larger end. They lie in the

nest on a bed of small, soft feathers. I do not know the period of

incubation, but should guess it to last about eleven days as a general

rule.


J. I. S. Whitaker, in his ‘ Birds of Tunisia,’ vol. i, p. 100,

says : “ The Gold-crest is said to be met with in Tunisia. Malherbe

and Locho both record it as occurring in Algeria, and a specimen of

it obtained by Loche in that country certainly exists in the Turati



* I should expect a full clutch to consist of ten eggs, as with the smaller Titmice.



