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FAMILY SYLVIANiE. 



WARBLERS. 



GENUS REGULUS — CUVIER. 



KINGLET. 



[Bill short, slender, broader than high at base, compressed toward the end— ^ 

 upper mandible slightly notched ; head ovate ; wings and tail of moderate 

 length, the latter emarginate ; tarsi slender, compressed ; claws arched, acute — 

 toes slender, hind toe strongest.] 



REGULUS CALENDULA— LINN. 



RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 



Ruby-crowned Wren, Wils. Amer. Orn. 



Reguius calendula, Bonap. Syn. 



Ruby-crowned Wren, Sylvia calendula, Nutt. Man. 



Ruby-crowned Reguius, Reguius calendula, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — A patch of bright vermilion on the crown ; 

 upper parts greenish-olive ; lower parts white, tinged with green ; 

 young with the vermilion patch on the crown wanting. Adult 

 male with the upper parts greenish-olive ; head and sides of the 

 neck tinged with gray ; a patch of bright vermilion on the crown ; 

 quills and tail dusky, margined with greenish-yellow ; a tinge of 

 the same color on the rump ; secondary coverts and first row of 

 small coverts tipped with white ; eye encircled with dull white ; 

 lower parts greenish-white. Female with the tints duller. Length 

 four inches and a quarter, wing two and a quarter. 



About the middle of April the Ruby-crowned Wren arrives from 

 the South, and frequents the orchards, procuring its food among 

 the blossoms. It remains with us but a short time. In its migra- 

 tory course it visits the Fur countries, where it breeds. When in 

 full song, according to Mr Audubon, (who met with it at Labra- 

 dor,) its notes excel those of a fine-toned Canary. On its way back 

 to winter quarters, in the latter part of September, it returns to us 

 with its young. At this period it lives chiefly on small winged 

 insects, which it pursues among the tops of the tallest trees, as 

 well as in the orchards. So intent it becomes on securing its prey, 

 that it heeds not the approach of man, nor is it scarcely disturbed 

 by the report of a gun. 



