142 



DALMATIAN REGULUS. 



REGULUS MODESTUS. 



Upper parts greenish yellow ; a ligliter streak passing from the base of the upper 

 mandible through the crown to the back of the head, a lemon-coloured streak 

 over each eye, a narrow dusky band through the eye, and a short lemon- 

 coloured streak below the eye ; two lemon-colour bands across the wing ; 

 quills dusky, edged with pale yellow ; under parts pale yellow. Length four 

 inches ; breadth six and a half. Eggs unknown. 



The right of this bird to be considered British, rests on 

 the fact, that a single specimen was shot in l!^orthumber- 

 land, in 1838. 



THE GOLD-CREST. 



REGULUS CRISTATUS. • 



Upper parts olive, tinged with yellow ; cheeks ash colour, without streaks ; v.'irig 

 greyish broM'u, with two transverse white bands ; crest bright yellow, tipped 

 with orange and bounded on each side by a black line ; under parts yellowish 

 grey. In the female the crest is lemon colour, and the other tints are less 

 brilliant. Length three inches and a half. Eggs cream colour. 



The Gold-crest, Golden-crested Eegulus, or Golden-crested 

 Wren, though not exceeding in dimensions some of the 

 larger humming-birds, and though decorated with a crest 

 equalling in brilliancy of colour the gay plumage of tropi- 

 cal birds, is a hardy little fellow, able to bear without 

 shrinking the cold of an English winter, and to keep his 

 position among the branches of high trees in the stormiest 

 weather. Even during a heavy gale I have watched Gold- 

 crests fluttering from branch to branch, and busily hunting 

 for food, though the trees were waving like reeds. They are 

 most numerous in winter, as a considerable number migrate 

 southwards in October, but a great many remain with us 

 all the year, preferring those districts where there are fir- 

 plantations. Their whole life is spent in the air ; I at least 

 have never observed one on the ground. Their food consists 

 of the insects which infest the leaves and twigs of trees ; 



