BIRDS OF THE GARDEN 35 



Ireland. More partial to uncultivated districts than the 

 last. 



Plumage. Throat and cheeks white, bordered by 

 black band. Gorget black, sides of neck and breast 

 grey, spotted with black ; upper parts reddish ash- 

 colour. Flanks barred with greyish crescentic markings. 

 Tail-feathers chestnut ; under parts fawn-colour. Bill, 

 legs, and feet bright red. Length 13^ in. Female, 

 rather smaller and duller. Young have no grey on 

 throat, and very little black on gorget. Young in down 

 like common Partridge. 



Language. A grating " chuk-chuk-chukar " ; but it 

 is said to utter a piping cry. 



Habits. Even more of a runner than the last. Very 

 similar to last, but perches more readily on trees or 

 fences, &c., than it. 



Food. Insects, seeds, green leaves, &c. 



Nest. May. One brood. 



Site. In shallow depression in the ground, among 

 thick herbage, &c. 



Materials. Dead grasses and leaves. 



Eggs. Ten to eighteen. Yellowish white, spotted, 

 usually speckled with dark brown. Shell thick, hard, 

 and minutely pitted. 



GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN (Regulus cristatus). 



Generally distributed throughout Great Britain. 



Haunts. Well-wooded localities and gardens ; espec- 

 ially fond of coniferous trees. 



Observation. Our smallest bird. 



Plumage. Top of head bright yellow, shading into 

 orange at the back, bounded by a dark streak, below 

 which comes the whitish superciliary eye-streak. Cheeks 

 ashy. Upper parts yellowish olive-green. Wings grey- 

 ish brown, with two distinct white bars. Tail ash-brown, 

 with yellowish margins ; under parts greyish brown, 

 whitish on abdomen. Bill dark brown. Legs brown. 



