THE GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 131 



the east coast of Scotland, and actually swarm in 

 some parts of Haddingtonshire. 



It is a pleasant sight in winter to watch a flock 

 of these tiny little birds sporting amongst the trees 

 and enlivening the whole wood with their oft- 

 repeated and plaintive chirp. In summer they 

 mostly conceal themselves amongst the gloomy 

 shade of the larch and- fir, amidst the branches of 

 which the nest, most beautifully constructed, is 

 artfully concealed. It is usually suspended from 

 the under side of a branch at its extremity, being 

 supported by two or three of the laterally diverging 

 and pendent twigs which are interwoven with the 

 materials of the nest. The materials employed are 

 soft mosses felted together with spiders' webs, and 

 lined with soft feathers. The eggs, from six to ten 

 in number and of the size of peas, are usually of a 

 dirty white, suffused with pale rust-colour towards the 

 larger end, but occasionally are quite white. Selby 

 found that they weigh from nine to ten grains each. 



fThe song of the Goldcrest is soft and sweet, but 

 uttered in so low a tone as to be scarcely audible 

 at a little distance. It is heard very early in the 

 year, generally commencing about the beginning 



