of the United States. 91 



very short ; third and fourth primaries longest ; first and 

 seventh equal. Tail emarginate. 



Female differs but little from the male ; young considera- 

 bly duller. Moult annually. Feathers long and setaceous ; 

 those of the head when separated, discovering a bright spot 

 on the crown. 



Delight in cold weather, though chiefly insectivorous. 

 Agile ; take their prey on the wing, or on trees, hanging 

 to the extremities of flexible branches in search of small 

 insects in the flowers, and on the leaves. Nest constructed 

 with great art, and affixed to pensile branches ; lay once or 

 twice a year ; eggs numerous, sometimes twelve- 

 Inhabit the north of both continents ; very small, in Eu- 

 rope the smallest of all birds. Intermediate between Sylvia 

 and Parus ; closely allied to both. 



145. Regulus calendula, Stephens. Olivaceous ; beneath 

 whitish ; crown vermillion, not margined with black. 



Ruby-crowned Wren, Sylvia calendula, Wih. Am. Orn. i. 

 p. 83. pi. 5 Jig. 3. Regulus rubineus Vieill. 



Inhabits North America except in winter ; extending its 

 migrations to Greenland; seldom observed in the middle 

 states during summer, as it breeds far to the north ; passing 

 north in spring ; common on its return in autumn. 



146. Regulus cristatus, Vieill. Olivaceous ; beneath whitish j 

 crown orange, margined with black ; cheeks pale grayish ; 

 bill slender from the base. 



Female, crown lemon-yellow. 



Golden-crested Wren, Sylvia regulus, Wils. Am. Orn. i. 

 p. 126. pi. 8. jig- 2. male; and Golden-croumed Gold-crest f 

 Regulus cristatus, Nob. Am. Orn. i. p. 22. pi. 2. Jig. 4. female. 



Widely extended in both continents ; in Pennsylvania 

 observed in April, autumn, and early winter only : breeds 

 in the north: common, 



