154 GOLD-CRESTS. 



is remarkable for its tiny size, its active and 

 hardy manners, and the peculiarity of the cover- 

 ing of the nostrils. The common, and until these 

 few years the only known British species, is by no 

 means unfrequent, remaining with us during the 

 whole season. All the known species are very 

 closely allied in colouring, and are distinguished 

 by the beautiful orange crest with which the head 

 is adorned, and which they display and erect on 

 irritation or pleasure. In addition to the com- 

 mon bird, JR. ignicapillus, or Fire- Crowned Gold- 

 crest, has been several times captured in our 

 island ; and by the attention of Mr Hancock of 

 Newcastle, we are enabled to give the descrip- 

 tion of a bird taken in Northumberland, which 

 agrees with the figure of Mr Gould's R. modestus* 

 From the very small and apparently tender frame 

 of these little birds, we become astonished that 

 they are able to perform any lengthened migra- 

 tion ; but on the coast, particularly on the eastern 

 side of the island, they may be seen to arrive in 

 troops about the same period with our other win- 

 ter visitants, many of them in a state of great 

 exhaustion. An account of a very remarkable 

 flight is given by Mr Selby ;* and we have yearly 

 notices, from some district on the east coast, of 

 large flights appearing at the accustomed season. 

 On the opposite side of the island we are not 

 aware that their arrival has been observed on the 

 shore ; but there can be no doubt, that, at the 

 same period, a large accession is received in the 

 * Brit. Orn. i. p. 230. 



