THE RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 



ASKETT says that the 

 Kinglets come at a certain 

 early spring date before 

 the leaves are fully ex- 

 panded, and flutter up- 

 ward, while they take something from 

 beneath the budding leaf or twig. It 

 is a peculiar motion, which with their 

 restless ways, olive-green color, and 

 small size, readily distinguishes them. 

 It is rare that one is still. "But the 

 ruby-crowned sometimes favors me 

 with a song, and as it is a little long, 

 he usually is quiet till done. It is 

 one of the sweetest little lullaby-like 

 strains. One day I saw him in the 

 rose bush just near voluntarily expand 

 the plumage of his crown and show 

 the brilliant golden-ruby feathers 

 beneath. Usually they are mostly 

 concealed. It was a rare treat, and 

 visible to me only because of my 

 rather exalted view. He generally 

 reserves this display for his mate, but 

 he was here among some Snow-birds 

 and Tree Sparrows, and seemed to be 

 trying to make these plain folks 

 envious of the prettv feathers in his 

 hat." 



These wonderfully dainty little 

 birds are of great value to the farmer 

 and the fruit grower, doing good work 

 among all classes of fruit trees by 

 killing grubs and larvae. In spite of 

 their value in this respect, they have 

 been, in common with many other 



attractive birds, recklessly killed for 

 millinery purposes. 



It is curious to see these busy 

 wanderers, who are always cheery and 

 sociable, come prying and peering 

 about the fruit trees, examining every 

 little nook of possible concealment 

 with the greatest interest. The}- do 

 not stay long after November, and 

 return again in April, 



The nest of this Kinglet is rarely 

 seen. It is of matted hair, feathers^ 

 moss, etc., bulky, round, and partly 

 hanging. Until recently the eggs 

 were unknown. They are of a dirty 

 cream-white, deepening at larger end 

 to form a ring, some specimens being 

 spotted. 



Mr. Nehrling, who has heard this 

 Kinglet sing in central Wisconsin and 

 northern Illinois, speaks of the "power, 

 purity, and volume of the notes, their 

 faultless modulation and long con- 

 tinuance," and Dr. Elliott Cones says 

 of it: "The Kinglet's exquisite vocal- 

 ization defies description." Dr. Brewer 

 says that its song is clear, resonant, 

 and high, a prolonged series, varying 

 from the lowest tones to the highest, 

 and terminating with the latter. It 

 may be heard at quite a distance, and 

 in some respects bears more resem- 

 blance to the song of the English 

 Sky-lark than to that of the Canary^ 

 to which Mr. Audubon compares it. 



loB 



