66 THE GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 



spring and autumn/ but more appear to be observed in 

 autumn than in spring. The males have been noticed at 

 the Isle of May to precede the females on migration by 

 several weeks in spring, which is the case with many of our 

 smaller migratory birds. The Golden- Crested Wren may be 

 often seen frequenting the young spruce fir plantations in 

 small flocks, in autumn and winter, where its faint call- 

 note attracts attention before the bird is observed. Here 

 it diligently searches amongst the evergreen branches for 

 insects, flitting from tree to tree rapidly, and occasionally 

 " keeking " underneath the boughs to see if any insects are 

 hidden there. It may also sometimes be seen exploring 

 hedges. During spring and summer it is dispersed in pairs 

 through the woods, policy grounds, and gardens. It is very 

 plentiful in Milne Graden grounds, where Miss Georgina 

 Milne-Home has frequently discovered its beautiful nest. 

 One which she showed to me in the summer of 1885, and 

 which contained three eggs, was built on a branch of a 

 young Scotch fir, close to the trunk, about five feet from 

 the ground. The tree upon which it was placed was growing 

 by the side of a walk within a few yards of the entrance to 

 the kitchen court, where people were constantly passing in 

 and out ; but the nest was so well concealed that it could 



1 The Golden-Crested Wren was observed on migration in Autumn 1880. — At 

 Isle of May, 8th and 15th Oct. ; at Fame Islands, 12th, 13th, and 22nd Oct. 

 Autumn 1881.— Isle of May, 27th Sep., 24th and 27th Oct. ; Fame, throughout 

 October. Spring 1882.— Isle of May, 9th March to 10th April. The males pre- 

 ceded the females by several weeks. Autumn 1882.— Isle of May, 27th Aug. to 

 12th Nov. ; Farne, 8th Oct. Mr. Cordeaux remarks that this autumn (1882) 

 will long be remembered amongst ornithologists for the extraordinary immigra- 

 tion of Goldcrests on the east coasts of England and Scotland. Spring 1883. 

 — Isle of May, 1st to 13th April; Farne, 2nd April. Autumn 1883. — Isle of 

 May, 10th Oct. Spriiig 1884. — Farne, end of March, and 28th April. Autumn 

 1884.— Isle of May, 31st Aug. to 27th Sep. ; Farne, Aug. to Nov. Spring 1885. 

 —Isle of May, r2th to 23rd April; Farne, 1st May. Autumn 1885.— Isle of 

 May, 1st to 19th Sep. ; Farne, 16th and 17th Oct. — From Reports on the 

 Migration of Birds, 1879-1885. Mr. John Wilson, Welnage, Duns, has informed 

 me that a fisherman told him that upon one occasion ten or twelve Golden- 

 Crested Wrens alighted on his boat while off the coast of Coldingham. 



