328 TEN TEAKS IN SWEDEN. 



The bearded tit, which has occasionally been killed in 

 South Denmark, is a stranger to Scandinavia, and this 

 surprises me, considering the nature of the country. I may 

 here remark that I was astonished at the few titmice we met 

 with in Lapland. The only species I could identify were the 

 Siberian tit and P. borealis, of which the former was by far 

 the most common. 



Gen. Regulus, Eay. 



Bill much more slender than in the last ; tarsi longer and 

 thinner ; nostrils oval, covered with one or two small thin 

 feathers directed forwards; tail shorter and more cloven- 

 The least of European birds. Builds a very small, pretty 

 nest on the hanging branch of a fir ; never lays in the hole of 

 a tree. The only Scandinavian species remains in the country 

 throughout the winter. 



121. REGULUS CEISTATUS, Will. Kungs Fogel. The Glolden 



Crested Wren. D. F. 



Length about 3^ in. ; along the crown of the head a 

 bright saffron yellow streak, and on each side of that a 

 black one; cheeks and region of the eyes cinereous, 

 without any white bands; colour above, brown olive 

 green, below, pale greyish yellow ; a white band over the 

 wing. 



This pretty, hardy little bird is met with in our midland 

 pine forests throughout the whole year, always in the winter 

 in company with the titmice, like butterflies flitting over the 

 tips of the fir branches, ever in motion, and never appear- 

 ing to sit still. According to Nilsson, is met with in Scan- 

 dinavia as far up as the fir tree grows, even within the 

 Polar circle. I saw one single specimen at Quickiock. 



The fire-crested wren, which is included in the Danish, 

 is a stranger to the Scandinavian fauna. These two little 

 birds are much alike, and might very possibly be confounded 

 by a casual observer. The colour of the crest of the head 

 varies much even in the golden-crested wren with age, 

 sex, and season, and the crests of both species assume a 

 vivid orange colour in the nuptial dress. The fire -crested 



