28 THE BIRDS OF RAINHAM. 



FIRE-CRESTED WREN. 

 Regulus ignicapillus (Brehm.). 



My first acquaintance with the Fire-Crested Wren 

 was when I first thought of making a small col- 

 lection of birds. In that wet year 1860, anxious to 

 obtain a Goldcrest, I thought I saw one in an apple 

 tree beside my house ; on picking the bird up, to my 

 delight, it was a female Fire-Crest. Date of occur- 

 rence, December, 1860. Since, I have once met 

 with a pair in the month of October on some larch 

 firs. 



GREAT TIT. 

 Parus major, Linn. 



I observe these sprightly little birds in small 

 parties when the woods have shed their leaves. When 

 the foliage is thick they are scarce, we have no old 

 timber trees for them to nest in. They do not breed in 

 our orchards. 



BLUE TIT. 

 Parus cceruleus. Linn. 



In winter the Blue Tit does not appear to be so 

 numerous as the Great Tit. In summer they are at 

 home near our dwellings, and are with the rest of the 

 Tits examples of industry, never idle from morning till 



