FIRE-CRESTED WREN. 77 



after a heavy gale from the S.E.^ liad been thrown ashore a 

 little east of Yarmouth, in Norfolk. ' 



Were it not now well known that it crosses the sea it 

 would appear almost incredible, as in its usual haunts it 

 rarely flies more than a few yards. It is a confiding and 

 gentle little bird, frequenting our plantations, especially 

 where there are fir-trees, particularly the spruce, on the 

 underside of a branch of whiali it often suspends its nest. 

 It sometimes, however, makes use of a lichen-covered larch for 

 that purpose, as well as the juniper, Virginian cedar, spruce, 

 or yew. The nest is formed very neatly and compactly of 

 very fine moss, thoroughly worked together with spiders^ 

 webs and wool, and lined with the finest hair and small 

 feathers. I once found one on the flat surface of a bough 

 of a cedar, sunk in between two of the lateral branches. 



Its habits partake a good deal of those of the Willow - 

 Wren and the Tits, and it often accompanies these birds in 

 the winter in little parties as they flit through the under- 

 woods from bush to bush, or tree to tree. I suppose that 

 many of these little birds congregate towards the coast with 

 a view of again passing the sea, as they are certainly much 

 more abundant in the winter than in the summer months. 



FIRE-CRESTED WREN. 



Regulus ignicajnllus. 



This species appears in this country in small numbers and 

 at very irregular periods. I have never heard of its breeding 

 in the county, and I do not know of any instance of its 

 having been obtained later than April. 



Its habits and manners are very similar to those of the 

 Golden-crested Wren. 



