THE GOLD-CREST. 145 



the nest from my bedroom windows, and watch the old 

 birds feeding their young. The eggs vary in number from 

 five to eight, they are almost globular, and smaller than 

 those of any other British bird. This is scarcely surpris- 

 ing, seeing that the weight of a recently killed adult male 

 which I have before me is eighty-seven grains : so that five 

 and a half full-grown birds weigh but an ounce. 



THE FIRE-CRESTED REGL'LUS. 



REGULUS IGNICAPILLUS. 



Upper parts olive-green ; a dark streak passing through the eye, and another 

 white one above and below ; crest brilliant orange, bounded in front and on 

 each side by a black streak ; in other respects resembling the last. Female 

 with all the colours less brilliant. Length four inches. Eggs cream colour. 



THIS species both in size and habits resembles the last, 

 from which it is best distinguished by three dark lines on 

 each side of its head. Hence it is called in France 

 " Roitelet & triple bandeau" It is far less common than 

 the Gold-crest, and has not been observed in the winter, 

 when birds of the other species are most abundant. Its 

 call-note is shorter than that of the Gold-crest, not so 

 shrill, and pitched in a different key. The nests of the 

 two birds are much alike. 



THE GREAT TIT. 



PARUS MAJOR. 



Head, throat, and a line passing down the centre of the breast, black ; back 

 olive-green ; cheeks and a spot on the nape white ; breast and abdomen 

 yellow. Length six inches ; breadth nine. Eggs white, speckled with light 

 rusty. 



As this bird is no larger than a Sparrow, its surname 

 " Great " must be understood to denote only its superiority 

 in size to the other birds of the same family. It is, however, 

 great-hearted, as far as boldness and bravery entitle it to this 

 epithet, being ready to give battle to birds far its superiors 



