221 



Average of 67 eggs (61 by Rey and 6 by the writer), 16.03 X 10.76 mm., Moasnre- 

 Max. 17.7X11 and 16.2x11.3, Min. 14.5x10.5 and 15x10 mm. "'"''• 

 Average weight, 67.8 mg. (Rev). 



100. Goldcrest, Regulus regulus (L.). 



Geographical Races. 



a. British Goldcrest, R. reg-alus anglorum Hart. 



Eggs: Hewitson, I. Ed. I. pi. LXXXVII, fig. 1, 2; II. Ed. I. 

 pi. XXX, fig. 1, 2; III. Ed. I., pi. XXXVIII, fig. 1, 2. Seebohm, Br. 

 Birds, pi. 11; id. Col. Fig. pi. 53. Frohawk, Br. Birds, I, pi. II, fig. 46—48. 

 Dresser, pi. — , fig. 1. 



Nest: O. Lee, II. p. 30. 



Local Names: Golden crested Wren, Tom Thumb. Manx: Ushag 

 fuygh. Welsh: Dryw bach y coed, Dryiv ben aur. 

 Regulus cristatus K. L. Koch. Newton, ed. Yarrell, I. p. 449. Dresser, 

 Birds of Europe, II. p. 453, and Man. Pal. Birds, p. 91 (part.) Saunders, 

 Man. p. 57. R. regulus anglorum Hart. Hartert. Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 396. 



Breeding Range: The British Isles. 



On the mainland of Great Britain this bird is found in all wooded British 

 districts from which conifers are not altogether absent. It is also resident 

 in the Isle of Wight, Anglesea and the Isle of Man; and has bred in 

 Skye, Raasay, Islay, Eigg, Mull, etc. where plantations exist, but is absent 

 as a breeding species fi'om the Outer Hebrides, Orkneys, and Shetlands. 

 There is little doubt that the increase of plantations has caused a consid- 

 erable extension of its breeding range in Scotland and also in Ireland, 

 where it is now resident in every county wherever trees exist. 



The beautifully built cup -shaped nest is generally suspended like Nest. 

 a hammock from the under surface of the end of a bough of some 

 coniferous tree, generally a spruce or silver fir, or a yew, occasionally 

 a Scotch fir, cedar, larch, or deodar; and less frequently in an ever- 

 green bush, such as juniper or cypress. When the spruces are small 

 the nest is sometimes placed among the topmost twigs, instead of being 

 suspended, and similarly built nests have been found in whitethorns and 

 evergreen oaks, while in exposed districts or where conifers are scarce, 

 it will nest among the ivy round the stems of deciduous trees and in 

 furze bushes. One found in the Isle of Man was built under a witch's 

 broom on a birch, and Ussher records a nest underneath and almost 

 touching a Hooded Crow's nest! The principal material used is green 

 moss, with occasionally a little wool and a lichen or two affixed to the 

 ontside. It is worked together by means of spiders' webs, and wool and 

 horsehair are also sometimes used in small quantities, while the inside 



