548 



PASSERINES. 



The Golden -crested Kinglet (Motadlla regulus, Linn.), Fig. 249, 

 inhabits the woods and thickets of the cold and temperate 

 regions of the earth, where, among the twigs, with great agility 

 it searches for insects, on which it feeds. While thus occupied 

 it emits a single shrill, feeble note, too often accepted by heart- 

 less boys as a tell-tale of its whereabouts. 



The European Wren ( Troglodytes europceus, Cuvier), Fig. 250, is 

 widely diffused over Europe, from Greenland to the southern parts 

 of Italy, and from Trebizond to the west coast of Ireland. Like 



Fig. 250. The Common or European Wren (Motadlla troglodytes, Liim.). 



the Robin, it has become, in a sense, a sacred bird, and few 

 venture to commit any outrage on the familiar little creature. 

 Its nest is found in all kinds of situations ; a favourite one 

 being under the turfed summit of a stone wall skirting a brook, 

 or on the edge of a wood or shrubbery. It is an elegant 

 structure, oval in form, and dome- shaped, with the entrance 

 at the side, the materials varjang with the locality ; but the 

 lining generally is soft, downy feathers. 



The Wood Warbler, or Wood Wren (Motadlla trochilus, Bewick), 

 Fig. 251, is a delicate, active little bird, pretty generally diffused. 

 It is of retiring and unobtrusive manners, its favourite haunt being 

 among the willows and osiers which skirt some sluggish stream. 

 While flitting about in such localities it emits a small chirping 



