56 GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 



From the limits of the fir-woods in Scandinavia, and from Arch- 

 angel and the Ural Mountains in Russia, the Golden-crest is 

 generally distributed over Europe down to the Mediterranean and 

 Black Seas ; it is also a regular migrant to Malta in spring and 

 autumn, on its way to and from North Africa. Eastward, it stretches 

 across Asia to the Amoor; examples from Asia Minor, Turkestan, 

 and the Himalayas, being intermediate between our form and 

 R. cristatus var. japonicus, with a greyish-brown nape, resident in 

 Japan, At the other extremity of its range, a local race named by 

 Mr. Seebohm R. cristatus var. azoricns, distinguished by its much 

 larger bill, stouter legs, and longer tail, is found in the Azores ; but 

 the Canaries appear to be frequented by the ordinary form. 



The beautiful nest of the Golden-crested Wren is generally placed 

 beneath the extremity of a branch of a fir, yew, cedar, or other 

 evergreen ; the almost spherical structure being supported by the 

 lateral twigs. Occasionally it has been found upon the upper sur- 

 face of a branch, and even in a low bush. Built of the softest moss, 

 felted with spiders' webs, wool and a iQ.\i lichens, and with a lining 

 of small feathers, it is frequently ready for eggs by the latter part of 

 March. These, 5-8 and even 10, are of a pale ochraceous-white, 

 minutely mottled, especially at the larger end, with reddish-brown : 

 average measurements "52 by "4 in. The female sits very close. 

 The song of the male, uttered almost incessantly in fine weather, is 

 often commenced in February ; but although sweet, it is weak, and 

 rather difficult to describe. Insects seem to form the food of this 

 little bird, which may often be seen searching for the means of sub- 

 sistence in the woods and groves, together with Tits and Creepers, 

 for it is very sociable in its habits. 



Adult male : base of the bill to above the eye, greyish-white ; 

 followed by a dark brown frontal streak deepening into a black line 

 on each side of a crest which is bright yellow in front and rich 

 orange further back ; neck and back yellowish olive-green ; tail- 

 feathers ash-brown, with yellowish margins ; wings ash-brown, with 

 white tips to the secondaries, and a black bar across the upper 

 part, contrasting with the white margins of the median and greater 

 wing-coverts ; under parts greenish-buff, whiter on the belly ; bill 

 very dark brown ; legs and feet brown ; irides hazel. Length 

 5*5 in.; wing to the tip of the 5th and longest primary 2 in. The 

 female is duller than the male, with narrower black streaks below 

 the crest, which is only lemon-yellow. The young have no crest, 

 but merely a crown rather darker in colour than the back. 



