FEMALE GOLDEN-CROWNED GOLD-CREST. 165 



guishes two varieties of Megulus cristatus, and again describes the igni- 

 capillus as the one he saw in America. If this observation couhl be 

 relied upon, we should admit that both species are inhabitants of this 

 country, although the present, which must be by far the most numerous, 

 is certainly not the ignicapiUus. 



I agree with Ray, Vieillot, and other authors, and dissent from Linn^, 

 Latham, Wilson, and Temminck, respecting the propriety of placing 

 these birds in a separate genus from Sylvia, and I have therefore changed 

 the generic name adopted by Wilson. This genus forms a link inter- 

 mediate to the genera Sylvia and Pants. It is small both in the num- 

 ber and size of its species, consisting of the two smallest of the Euro- 

 pean birds, one of which is the subject of this article ; an American 

 species, the Ruby-crowned Gold-crest [Regulus calendulus), so well 

 figured and described by Wilson ; and a fourth from Asia. 



The most obvious characters that distinguish the genus Regulus from 

 Sylvia are, the bill remarkably slender throughout, and two small de- 

 composed feathers, directed forwards so as to cover the nostrils. 



The habits of the Gold-crests resemble, in many respects, those of 

 the Titmouse. They delight in cold weather, and then often perch on 

 evergreen trees. They display great activity and agility in search 

 of their food, being almost constantly in motion, hopping from branch 

 to branch, or climbing on trees, frequently with the head downwards, 

 searching the chinks of the bark for their prey. These little birds 

 commonly feed on the smallest insects, which they catch adroitly 

 while on the wing ; in the winter they seek them in their retreats, where 

 they lie torpid or dead. -They are also very expert at finding larva 

 and all sorts of small worms, of which they are so fond as to gorge 

 themselves exceedingly. During summer, they occasionally eat little 

 berries and small grains. In autumn they are fat, and fit for the table, 

 notwithstanding their very diminutive size. The species we are describ- 

 ing is found in great quantities in the neighborhood of Nuremberg, in 

 Germany, and sold in the markets of that city, where they command a 

 high price. 



Wilson, in his account of the present species, observes, that " the 

 very accurate description given by the Count de Buffon, agrees, in every 

 respect, with ours." Notwithstanding this observation, Buffon's plate 

 and description designate the ignicapillus beyond the possibility of 

 doubt ; whilst those of Wilson are intended for the cristatus. 



This statement of Wilson, joined to the testimony of Vieillot, would 

 have led us to believe the ignicapillus to be an American bird, if Wil- 

 son's plate, and more especially his description, as well as the inspection 

 of the very individual he delineated, and a hundred others, had not 

 confirmed our own belief. It may, however, be considered extraordi- 

 nary, that so diminutive a being should extend its range so widely as to 



