THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 
freckled with brownish red, chiefly on the larger end, and 
sometimes so suffused over the entire surface as to con- 
ceal the ground colour. During the breeding season the 
male has a sweet little song, but I have frequently heard 
this species warble delightfully in autumn. ‘The young 
and their parents usually remain in company until the 
following spring. 
The adult Goldcrest has the upper parts yellowish 
olive-green ; two black lines reach from each side of the 
forehead, enclosing the flaming orange-yellow crest ; the 
wings and tail are brown, with yellowish margins to the 
feathers, and the former have two white bars. ‘The under 
parts are greyish brown. Bill dark brown; tarsi and 
toes brown; irides brown. Length nearly 3? inches. 
The nestling has no black lines on the head, and the 
yellow crest is absent. 
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