378 SYLVIAD^E. 



have visited, I have found it only as a migratory species 

 during the autumn ; it probably passes over the same dis- 

 tricts in the spring, but I have not observed it. As M. 

 Brehm, the German naturalist, seems to have been one of 

 the first who noticed this bird, I have little doubt of its 

 breeding in northern Germany. I fully expected to have 

 found it in some very extensive tracts of forest which I 

 visited last summer, situated between the Meuse and the 

 Rhine ; but I could neither meet with this species, nor our 

 common Gold Crest. I have noticed the appearance of the 

 Fire Crest in the beginning of September, at first only 

 single birds or in pairs ; the end of September, and the first 

 fortnight in October, seem to be the time when they pass 

 over in the greatest numbers. I never recollect having seen 

 more than five or six individuals together, whereas with the 

 common species you often find them in parties of a dozen or 

 more. By the early part of November you will rarely find 

 the Fire Crest, while the common species is abundant 

 through the winter. I have never heard the song of the 

 Fire Crest, but have no doubt of its differing from the 

 other : the call-note I can readily distinguish among a host 

 of the common ; it is shorter, not so shrill, and pitched in 

 a different key, that to one well versed in the language 

 of birds it is easily discovered. I think they prefer low 

 brushwood and young plantations of fir to the loftier trees ; 

 but yet I have often found them in the latter situations. 

 They associate with the Titmice like the other kind ; but 

 I have found them sometimes more restless and shy. I 

 have no doubt but the Fire Crest would be found early in 

 autumn if diligently sought for on our south-eastern coast 

 by those well conversant with its notes, without which 

 knowledge it would be difficult to find it ; when within a 

 few yards of it this bird is readily distinguished by the 

 white mark above the eyes." 



