122 Golden-Crested Wrens 



out their small wings to catch the invigorating heat, 

 as a bird stretches out its wings to sun itself. Then 

 they sat up and began to preen themselves, fluttering 

 about, and seeming extremely jolly. 



One was smaller and less advanced than the others, 

 and this poor " Dolly " died. 



The other two prospered, and in a few days would 

 sit side by side on one of my fingers. 



They were most fascinating. 



I used to give them bits of mealworm, as well as 

 ants' eggs. 



They were placed in a cage, the bars of which 

 were of cane, and fairly close together ; but one day 

 a small gold-crest popped through them without the 

 slightest difficulty, and, what is more,popped through the 

 open window as easily, and lived happily ever afterwards. 



At least I hope so ! 



/ never saw him again ; ungrateful little bird ! 

 His little brother survived only a year, after which 

 time, he turned up his little toes. 



He was the jolliest little bird, without the slightest 

 fear, and full of curiosity, always peering through the 

 bars of his cage to see what was going on outside. 

 His gold crown appeared with his first autumnal moult ; 

 until then his head was a dull green along with his body. 



When alarmed in any way he could compress the 

 feathers of his crest until there was only a tiny streak 

 of saffron yellow edged with black. 



At other times it would widen out and show very 

 plainly what he was. 



Whole mealworms were too big for him, so I 



