THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 17 



reports that he has met with the species in the 

 North of the County. Montagu found this species 

 nesting near Kingsbridge, in 1806, building in tlie 

 thickest furze, about two feet from the ground, a 

 nest resembling in the flimsiness of its structure that 

 of the Whitethroat, composed of dry vegetable 

 stalks, mixed with the tender dead branches of furze, 

 intermixed very sparingly with wool. The nestlings 

 reared by Montagu " began to sing with the appear- 

 ance of theh' first mature feathers and continued in 

 sons; all the month of October." 



GOLDEN-CRESTED WRmi.—Regulus crlsMus. Koch. 

 A COMMON resident, and winter immigrant, most 

 numerous in our fir plantations, though often seen in 

 our hedgerows and gardens, generally in small parties, 

 but single pairs are met with during every month. 

 It is a delightful bird to study, appearing to be incess- 

 antly in motion, darting from branch to branch in its 

 keen pursuit of insects, often clinging to the under- 

 surface of the boughs of firs in titmouse fashion, either 

 in company with its own kind or associating with 

 Tits and Tree Creepers. Bellamy recordes a white 

 variety of the Goldcrest obtained in Devonshire. 



FIRE-CRESTED ^N^'E^.—RerJ^dm itjmcapilliix. (Brclim). 



A RARE visitant during the winter months, only met 

 with hitherto in the South of the County. On the 

 6tli of March, 1873, a beautiful female Firecrest was 

 taken in the flesh to Mr. Shopland, of Torquay, 



