458 SYLVlIDiE. 



I am indebted to the late Mr. J. D. Hoy for some notes 

 on this species, as observed by him, to the effect that in 

 the parts of Belgium visited by him he found it only as a 

 migratory species during the autumn : it probably passes over 

 the same districts in the spring, but he had not then observed 

 it. He fully expected to have found it in some very extensive 

 tracts of forest, situated between the Meuse and the Rhine ; 

 but he could neither meet with this species, nor with the 

 common one. He noticed its appearance in the beginning 

 of September, at first only single birds or in pairs — the end 

 of September, and the first fortnight in October, seeming 

 to be the time when they pass in the greatest numbers. He 

 did not recollect ever having seen more than five or six 

 individuals together, whereas the common species is found in 

 parties of a dozen or more, and is abundant throughout the 

 winter, but the Fire-crested Wren is rarely seen even in the 

 early part of November. Its call-note can be readily distin- 

 guished among a host of the common species, being shorter, 

 not so shrill, and pitched in a different key, so that it is 

 easily discovered. It seems to prefer low brushwood and 

 young plantations of fir to the loftier trees ; but yet is often 

 found in the latter situations. It associates with the various 

 kinds of Titmouse like the other species ; but is sometimes 

 more restless and shy. 



This bird is thought to have been seen in the Fseroes, 

 but, except on a few occasions in Denmark, is elsewhere 

 unknown in Scandinavia. It has occurred at Borkum and 

 Heligoland, and seems to be a summer-visitor throughout 

 Germany — in most districts far less common than the pre- 

 ceding species, but breeding in many localities, while in 

 some few it is said to be also found in winter. Its eastern 

 limits appear to be bounded by a line running from Danzig in 

 a south-easterly direction through Kiev to the Crimea, where 

 it is however rare. It would seem to be pretty common in 

 Turkey and Greece, and Strickland obtained it in December 

 at Smyrna. It winters in some parts of Italy and has been 

 found in Sardinia and Malta. It is said to occur in all the 

 provinces of Algeria and to be especially common in the 



