R. CALENDULA : RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 71 



FAMILY SYLVIID^: SYLVIANS. 



RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 

 REGULUS CALENDULA (Z.) Licht. 



Chars. Above, olive-green, becoming brighter on the rump, the 

 wings and tail dusky, edged with yellowish ; wings crossed with 

 two whitish bars, and inner secondaries edged with the same. 

 Under parts dull whitish, tinged more or less strongly with buffy 

 or yellowish or greenish-gray. A whitish ring around the eye. 

 Crown with a concealed patch of rich scarlet (wanting in the 

 young, and also in many spring birds ; supposed not to be ac- 

 quired till the second year). Bill and feet black. Length about 

 4.25, but varying from 4.10 to 4.50; extent, 6.75-7.50; wing, 

 2.10-2.30 ; tail, 1.75 ; bill, 0.25 ; tarsus, 0.75. 



This dainty little creature is one of the many birds 

 which mark the distinction between the Canadian and 

 Alleghanian Faunas, being apparently limited by the 

 former in its southward range during the breeding sea- 

 son. There can be no reasonable doubt that it breeds 

 in northern New England, where it has been observed 

 in summer ; but I am not aware that the inference has 

 been established as a fact by the discovery of its nest 

 and eggs. In the greater part of New England, how- 

 ever, the Ruby-crown occurs only as a spring and 

 autumn migrant, appearing in the Alleghanian Fauna 

 during the first half of April, on its northward way, 

 remaining a month or so, and then passing on, to 

 recur again during the autumnal movement, in Octo- 

 ber and the following month. While migrating it is 

 abundant in woods, orchards, and gardens, though on 



