THE RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 267 
but it would seem at least possible that fall bird troops consist of the combined 
families of Mr. and Mrs. Quiverful. 
As to the time of home-making, the Kinglets are not very particular. 
Nor is it necessary that they should be. It is always spring here after the first 
of February. Besides that, a fir tree is both forest and store-house at any 
season. In the vicinity of Tacoma, the usual nesting time is the last week 
in April for the first set, and the second week in June for the second. The 
earliest record is April 9th, that of a nest containing half-grown young. The 
first egg of this set must, therefore, have been deposited about March 15th. 
So far as we can make out, this bird is strictly resident in western Wash- 
ington, but it is much less common on the east side of the Cascades, and is 
there largely migratory. Not only does the species retire in winter from the 
mountains to the lower foot-hills, but considerable numbers pass over the 
State to and from British Columbia. At such times they appear wherever 
timber or watered shrubbery is to be found. With manners so engaging and 
lives so sheltered, to say nothing of families so blessed in the yearly increase, 
is it any wonder that the gentle tribe of Regulus prevails thruout the giant 
forests of this western slope, and spills over in blessing wherever trees abound ? 
No. 104. 
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 
A. O. U. No. 749. Regulus calendula (Linn.). 
Description Adult male: Above olive-green, duller anteriorly, brightening 
to greenish yellow on edgings of quills and tail-feathers; a partly concealed crest 
of scarlet (flame-scarlet to scarlet-vermilion) ; two narrow, whitish wing-bars 
formed by tips of middle and greater coverts; some whitish edging on tertials ; 
a dusky interval separating greenish yellow edges on outer webs of secondaries ; 
a whitish eye-ring and whitish skirtings around base of bill; under parts soiled 
white, heavily tinged with buffy and olivaceous buff. ddult female and tmmature: 
Similar but without crown-patch. Length 4.00-4.50 (101.6-114.3); wing 2.33 
(59.2) ; tail 1.72 (43.7); bill from nostril .25 (6.4). 
Recognition Marks.—Pygmy size; scarlet crest distinctive. Note wing-bars 
and whitish eye-ring of female and young. Lighter than R. e. grinnelli. 
Nesting.—WNest: a ball of moss, lichens, etce., bound together with cobwebs, 
and lashed to drooping twigs beneath branch of conifer, lined with vegetable- 
down, catkins, hair, and feathers, and placed at moderate heights. Eggs: 5-9, dull 
white, or pale buffy, faintly or sharply but sparingly speckled with reddish brown, 
chiefly about larger end. Av. size, .55x.43 (14x10.9). Season: June; one 
brood( ?). 
General Range.—North America at large in wooded districts, north to limit 
