THE RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 267 



hut it would seeui at least possible that fall hinl troops consist of the coniliined 

 families of Mr. and Mrs. Ouiverful. 



As to the time of iiome-niaking, the Kinglets are not very ])articular. 

 Nor is it necessary that they should be. It is always spring here after the first 

 of February. Besides that, a hr tree is both forest and store-house at any 

 season. In the vicinity of Tacoma, the usual nisiing 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 glh, 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 l)ird is strictly resident in western Wash- 

 ington, Init it is much less common on the east side of the Cascades, and is 

 there largely migratory. Not <inly 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. .\l such times they appear wherever 

 timber or watered shrubbery is to i)e 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 Rcgiiliis prevails thruout the giant 

 forests of this western slope, and spills over in Ijlessing where\'er trees abound? 



No. 104. 



RT BY-CROWNED KINGLET. 



.\. O. U. Xo. 749. Regulus calendula ( Linn. ). 



Description. — .-idiilt male: Above olive-green, duller antcrinrlv. 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 I)y 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 e}e-ring and whitish skirtings around base of bill ; under ])arts soiled 

 white, heavily tinged with buffy and olivaceous buff. Adult female and iiuiitatiirc: 

 Similar but without crown-patch. Length 4.00-4.50 I 101.6-1 14.3) ; wing 2.33 

 (59.2); tail 1.72 (43.7); bill from nostril .25 (6.4). 



Recognition Marks. — I'ygmy size; scarlet crest distinctive. Xote wing-bars 

 and whitish eye-ring of female and young. Lighter than R. c. grinnelli. 



Nesting. — .V<\?/; a ball of moss, lichens, etc., bound together with cobwebs, 

 and lashed to droo])ing twigs beneath branch of conifer, lined with vegetable- 

 down, catkins, hair, and feathers, and placed at moderate heights. Iuj(/s: 5-9, dull 

 white, or pale buffy. faintly or sharply but sparingly speckled with reddish brown, 

 chiefly about larger end. .\v. size. .55 x .43 (i4.\io.9L Season: June; one 

 broo<li' ?). 



(ieneral Range. — North .\nuTica at large in wooded districts, north to limit 



