WARBLERS. 135 



his hands over them, and took them into custody, carried them into 

 the house, and imprisoned them under a wire meat-cover. One soon 

 died, when the other perched upon him, pecked him, and- endeavoured 

 to draw him round his prison. Shortly after, the conqueror shewed 

 signs of exhaustion, was taken out and placed near an open window, 

 but died also. The female selected a mate, and built her nest over 

 the spot where the battle was fought." 



The Golden-crests frequently associate with birds of other species; 

 they have been seen in company with Titmice and Creepers, foraging 

 the woods in parties of several dozens, all together, as one family. 



These birds remain with us throughout the year, but their numbers 

 are much swelled in winter by the arrival of large flocks from colder 

 climates. It seems singular that such diminutive and delicate creatures 

 should be able to travel across wide extents of sea during the often 

 boisterous weather of autumn, but such is the indisputable fact; many 

 doubtless perish, and others reach the shore in an utterly exhausted 

 condition. Mr. Selby speaks of an immense flock that arrived on the 

 coasts of Northumberland and Durham in October, 1822, after a severe 

 north-east gale, and expresses his opinion that they came from the 

 pine forests of Norway and Sweden. In further confirmation of this 

 curious fact, Mr. Stevenson, in the "Birds of Norfolk," quotes from a 

 letter from Capt. Longe, of Great Yarmouth, as follows: "As I was 

 walking to Hemsby, about 7-30 on the morning of the 2nd. of 

 November, 1862, about half a mile from Yarmouth on the Caister road, 

 my attention was attracted to a small bush overhanging the marsh dyke, 

 which borders the pathway, by the continuous twittering of a small 

 bird. On looking closely I found the bush, small as it was, literally 

 covered with Golden-crested Wrens; there was hardly an inch of twig 

 that had not a bird on. it. I went the next morning to look for them, 

 but they were all gone. The wind had been easterly, with much fog." 



The song of the Goldcrest is very sweet and melodious, but so soft 

 that it cannot be heard unless the listener is quite close. He generally 

 delivers it when perched on a bush or hovering above it, but sometimes 

 when on the wing. The ordinary note, which he utters constantly 

 when searching for food, is weak and feeble, although rather shrill; 

 it resembles the syllables 'tzit, tzit/ and 'see, 3 or 'sree.' 



The Goldcrests begin to pair as early as the end of February, and 

 immediately leave open localities and retire to the interior of the fir, 

 larch, or oak woods, where they construct their tiny nests. These they 

 generally suspend to the under surface of the branches, by interweaving 

 the materials of the exterior moss, wool, or grass with the projecting 

 twigs; sometimes they are made to rest on the branches immediately 

 underneath. They are frequently lined with feathers, and altogether 



