R. SATRAPA ; GOLDEN-CRESTED KINGLET. 73 



GOLDEN-CRESTED KINGLET. 



ReGULUS SATRAPA Licht. 



Chars. Above, olive-green, brightest on tlie rump ; the wings and 

 tail dusky, edged with yellowish, the former having two whitish 

 bars across the greater and median coverts, and also having the 

 secondaries marked with blackish and whitish. Crown of the 

 head, in the male, with a central bed of flame-color, bordered in 

 front and on the sides with rich yellow, this similarly bordered 

 with black, this again with hoary whitish. Bill black ; feet dark. 

 Female and young similar, but lacking the scarlet patch in the 

 yellow. Rather smaller than the Ruby-crown. Length about 

 4.00 ; extent, 6.50-7.00 ; wing, 2.00-2.10 ; tail, l. 65-1. 75 ; bill, 

 0.20 ; tarsus, 0.50. 



Like its nearest relative, the Golden-crest is one of 

 the species whose southward range in the breeding 

 season is limited by the Canadian Fauna. It however 

 appears to be of a more hardy nature, enabling it to 

 endure the rigors of a New England winter. Though 

 most abundant and most generally dispersed during 

 the migrations in spring and fall, it may be found at 

 any time from October until the latter part of the fol- 

 lowing April, when it retires to its breeding grounds, 

 in northern New England and northward. It is there- 

 fore a permanent resident of the country, breeding in 

 the Canadian and wintering in the Alleghanian Fauna. 

 Dr. Brewer is certainly mistaken in giving it in his list 

 as only " migratory, in spring and fall," in southern 

 New England. Thus, Mr. Merriam says, for Con- 

 necticut : "A winter resident ; have seen it at repeated 

 intervals from Oct. 13th till spring (May)." Even in 

 Massachusetts, according to Allen, the bird is " chiefly 

 a winter visitant, occurring in variable abundance in 

 different years, but usually more or less common." 



