326 Birds of North Cabolina 



Tlio nest is built in a natural cavity in a dead or living tree, or in a hole dug 

 by the birds themselves in a dead stub or stump, occasionally even in the aban- 

 doned hole excavated by some other l)ird. The cavity is lined with feathers, fur, 

 cotton, cattail HutT, moss, hair, bark strips, and similar materials matted rather 

 than woven together. It is usually about six inches below the entrance hole, which 

 is itself at a height of from two to twelve feet from the ground. The eggs number 

 four to seven, and arc white, si^rinkled with small blotches and specks of reddish 

 brown. Size .60 x .50. Aj^ril is the usual month for nesting. 



This is an active little bird, and when feeding may often be seen hanging back 

 downward on a pini^-conc, or on a Ixuich of dead leaves caught in the branches. 



58. FAMILY SYLVIID>E. KINGLETS. GNATCATCHERS, ETC. 



Tills family contains many species of small birds wliiih in the Old World take 

 the place occujjicd in America by the Wood Warblers. In this country it is repre- 

 sentetl only by the almost cosmopolitan genus Rcijulits, ami the American genus 

 PoHoptila. 



KKV TO r,ENER.\ 



1. Wings doci(lG(ily longjcr tliaii tail; color olivaceous. Regulus. 

 1. Wings aiul tail about equal; color ashy blue. PoUoptila. 



Genus Regulus (Cuv.) 



KKY TO SPEC IKS 



1. Crown yellow, bordered with hlai-k in front and on sides; male with a central patch of orange 



in the iniildle of the yellow, d'otiltn-crowncd Kinylel. 

 1. Crown without black or yellow; male with a concealed cro\vn-patch which is usually bright 



red, but very rarely yellow. liuby-crou>}ied Kinglcl. 



332. Regulus satrapa satrapa (Licht.). Gounis-cno-w^Kn Kinglet. 



DcsrrijilinH. — Olivaceous above, whitish below; ero\TO with a vellow patch bord'^reil with black 

 (orange-red in center in male); forehead and line over eye whilisli. L., 4.10; W., 2.1."); T., 1.75. 



Rnngc. — Eastern North .\merica, breeiliiig mainly nortli of the United States. 



linngc in North Carolina. — Winter visitor llu-oughout the State; resident and breeds on some 

 of the higher mountains. 



Fio. 267. Golden CROWNED Kinolet. 



This is a cominon winter visitor in this State, arriving about the middle of 

 October and heaving in April. While here it usually goes in troops, fretiueuting 

 groves of evergreens. 



