THE GOLDEX-CRESTED IFREX, 63 



The usual song of the Gold-crest is weak^ but very 

 pleasing, and mu ch res embles that of the Common Wren. 

 Its call is a shrill but weak note, most nearly represented 

 by " tsit,Jsit/' 



Their muscular powers appear to be weak, as they 

 seldom hop from pla-^e to place without calling in the 

 assistance of the wings, which they seem to be always 

 flapping whilst in pursuit of their food, for they flutter 

 around and underneath the leaves, and pick off the insects 

 that may have taken refuge there. They are most in- 

 defatigal)le in their search, calling to one another mean- 

 while, and so searching branch after branch, ridding them 

 of any small insects that may be found, but especially 

 small winged insects — or, according to the season, their 

 larvaj — for it is upon such food that the Gold-crest feeds. 



This bird breeds early — usually during ^larch — building 

 its nejt generally in a fir^ree, but sometimes in yews, 

 or eveii in a laurustinus. The nest is dome-shaped, with 

 a small aperture at the side, and not built upon the 

 branches, but suspended therefrom, and at various heights 

 from the ground, sometimes but five feet, varying to ten 

 feet. The nest is built chiefly of gre_en moss, lichens, 

 caterpjllars' cocoons, and the down of the flowering 

 walbw; this structure is lined with feathers, but the 

 exterior much resembles in appearance the branch upon 

 which it is suspended. Observant dwellers in the country 

 may have often noticed these nests, apparently deserted 

 and unfinished. The reason is that, like the Common 

 Wren, this diminutive bird makes various efforts in the way 

 of nest-building before an edifice or its site gives satis- 

 faction ; but when such is finally the case, the female 

 deposits therein a various number of tiny eggs — though 



