GOLDEN-CHESTED WEEN 73 



in front, orange behind, bounded by two black lines ; under parts 

 yellowish grey. Female : colours not so bright ; crest lemon-colour. 

 Length, three and a half inches. 



The golden-crested wren has the distinction of being the smallest. 

 British bird ; it is also one of the most widely distributed, being 

 found throughout the United Kingdom. Furthermore, it is a resi- 

 dent throughout the year, is nowhere scarce, and in many places 

 is very abundant. Yet it is well known only to those who are 

 close observers of bird life. The goldcrest is not a familiar figure, 

 owing to its smallness and restlessness, which exceed that of all 

 the other members of this restless family of birds, and make it dim- 

 cult for the observer to see it well. Again, it is nearly always con- 

 cealed from sight by the foliage, and in winter it keeps mostly among 

 the evergreens, and at all times haunts by preference pine, fir, and 

 yew trees. In the pale light of a winter day, more especially in 

 cloudy weather, it is hard to see the greenish, restless little creature 

 in his deep green bush or tree. Standing under, or close to, a wide- 

 spreading old yew, half a dozen goldcrests flitting incessantly about 

 among the foliage in the gloomy interior of the tree look less like 

 what they are than the small flitting shadows of birds. 



In March, and even as early as the latter part of February, the 

 male is frequently heard uttering his song ; but he is not of the 

 songsters that perch to sing, and pour out their music deliberately 

 and with all their might. The goldcrest's song comes in as a sort 

 of trivial distraction or relief a slight interlude between the more 

 important acts of passing from one twig or spray to another, and 

 snatching up some infinitesimal insect so quickly and deftly that to 

 see the action one must watch the bird very closely indeed. And 

 the music, of which the musician makes so little, is of very little 

 account to the listener. It is the smallest of small songs two notes, 

 almost identical in tone, repeated rapidly, without variation, two or 

 three times, ending with a slight quaver, scarcely audible, on the 

 last note. The sound is sharp and fine, as of young mice squealing, 

 but not quite so sharp, and more musical ; it is a sound that does 

 not travel : to hear it well one must stand not farther than a dozen 

 or fifteen yards from the singer. 



Yarrell has the following passage on the song of the goldcrest : 

 ' Pennant says he has observed this bird suspended in the air for a 

 considerable time over a bush in flower, while it sang very melodi- 

 ously ; but this peculiarity does not appear to have been noticed by 



