189 



flesh colour, marked with small red spots at the 

 larger end, have been found. The food of the 

 Fire-crested Eegulus is said to be similar to that 

 of the other species. 



REGULUS, GOLDEN-CRESTED. 

 GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 

 EEGTJLTJS CEISTA.TUB, Temm. 



The Golden-crested Wren is found throughout 

 Europe, and as far north as the Arctic Circle. It 

 is generally abundant in woods, especially those of 

 pine or fir, in all parts of Britain, but particularly 

 in Scotland, where it remains all the year. It is 

 a resident even in Orkney and Shetland, where 

 woods, forests, or large groups of trees are unknown. 

 In winter it moves about in troops of ten, asso- 

 ciating with Titmice and other small birds. Its 

 song is short and feeble, but its flight is rapid, and 

 all its motions lively. It clings to the twigs in all 

 postures, and occasionally betakes itself to low 

 bushes, as broom and furze, and even heath. The 

 nest, which is large and of a globular form, is 

 made of moss and lichen, interwoven with wool or 

 hairs, and lined with feathers, and is usually sus- 

 pended from the under part of a thickly-clothed 

 fir-branch. The eggs, varying in number from 

 five to nine, are of a brownish or reddish white, 

 darker at the larger end. 



