34 THE GOLD-CREST : 
brilliancy of colour the gay plumage of tropical 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 ; and I have seen them capture small 
moths on the wing. While hunting for food, which appears to 
be all day long, they are never still, fluttering from branch to branch, 
hanging in all attitudes, and peering in all directions. From time 
to time they utter their thin and wiry call-note, which is by some 
compared to the cry of the Shrew. It might be mistaken for the 
jarring noise made by two branches which cross one another, or 
that of a damp finger rubbed lightly along a pane of glass. Early, 
in spring the song commences ; it is composed of about fifteen short 
hotes, rapidly uttered at an exceedingly high pitch, and ending 
with a yet more rapidcadence. By the call-note or song the vicinity 
of the bird is far more frequently detected than by its actual 
appearance ; for the branches of firs in woods are mostly at a 
considerable height from the ground, and our ‘little king’ (saving 
his majesty) is hard to be distinguished from a fir-cone, except 
when he is in motion. Gold-crests are eminently social birds ; 
they generally hunt in parties of half a dozen or more, and do not 
often change their hunting-ground ; at least I infer as much from 
the fact that on various occasions I have observed the same bird 
on the same clump of trees, at intervals extending over several 
weeks. I could scarcely have been mistaken in the identity of 
the bird, as it had lost a leg, by what accident I know not ; but the 
loss did not at all interfere with its activity or spirits. Their 
sociability extends sometimes to birds of other kinds, as the Creeper 
and the Tits of several species have been seen hunting in company 
with them. The habits of these birds being similar, they per- 
haps associate from a feeling of mutual protection, just as Sparrows, 
Buntings, and Finches make common cause, when they invade 
our rick-yards. The Gold-crests are, however, naturally less wary 
than any of the Tits. These last will at once decamp if disturbed, 
but Gold-crests will continue their hunting without taking any notice 
of a spectator. In autumn large flocks sometimes arrive on 
our east coast extending across England and on into Ireland. In 
April areturn migration takes place. Thenestof the Gold-crest is 
a beautiful structure. Its external form is nearly that of a globe, 
with a contracted opening at the top. It is composed of moss 
