THE PERCHING BIRDS. 33 



mouse, and, according to Nuttall, " scarcely louder." 

 This is very true, so far as it goes, but there are ex- 

 traordinary occasions when it can raise its voice to 

 some purpose and squeak very shrilly. This little 

 bird has something of a temper when nesting, and 

 while timid as a rule, may be roused to rashness, and 

 will dart at you as angrily as ever did the irate hum- 

 ming-bird. 



There are two birds much alike in all respects, the 

 Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. They 



Golden-crowned Kinglet. 



spend their summers in the far north, and winter, 

 the former in the Middle States and southward, and 

 the latter altogether far south. So it is written ; but 

 I have seen ruby-crowns at Christmas in Southern 

 New Jersey, and occasionally elsewhere. The golden- 

 crowned is the common one with us all the winter, 

 and a very companionable little fellow it is. While 

 preferring evergreens, it is satisfied with shrubbery 

 of any kind, and will cheerfully pick its way through 

 tangled vines, all the while singing or trying to, which 

 is just as well, for the simple sound shows what a 

 cheerful heart the kinglet has, and we are as quick 

 to respond to an effort as to a great feat accom- 



