i5 s ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



band of the crown, running parallel to the latter streak ; ear- 

 coverts bluish-grey on the upper margin, the rest of the sides of 

 the face isabelline-buff like the threat and sides of body, the 

 breast and centre of body ashy-whitish ; on each side of the 

 neck a patch of golden-yellow ; bill and feet dark brown ; iris 

 hazel. Total length, 4 inches; culmen, 0-4; wing, 2-2; tail 

 i '55 ; tarsus, 0-6. 



Adult Female. As with the Gold-Crest, the hen bird of the 

 Fire-Crest differs from her mate by the less brilliant crown. 



Note. The Fire- Crest, as its name implies, has a more 

 brilliantly-coloured crown than the Gold-Crest, and is easily 

 distinguished by the golden-yellow patch on the side of the 

 neck, and by the white eyebrow, which is very well marked in 

 R. ignicapillus. 



Range in Great Britain. A winter visitant, probably of more 

 frequent occurrence than is generally supposed. Its capture 

 has been recorded in nearly all the eastern and southern 

 counties of England, but its occurrence in Scotland and Ire- 

 land has not yet been established. The Fire-Crest is quite as 

 migratory as the Gold-Crest, and in Heligoland in 1876 there 

 were even more killed of the former than of the latter during 

 our visit, but it is certain that the Gold-Crest comes to England 

 on migration in much larger numbers than its ally. 



Range outside the British Islands. The Fire-Crest is a bird of 

 much more restricted range than the Gold-Crest, and, although 

 found in Western, as well as in Central and Southern Europe, 

 it does not extend to Scandinavia, nor does it occur north- 

 east of the Baltic Provinces, though it is found in Southern 

 Russia and Asia Minor also. 



Habits. These are stated to be similar to those of the Gold 

 Crest, though many writers consider it a more restless bird, 

 and in its ways it has been compared to a Willow-Warbler. 

 Mr. Seebohm says that it affects the pine-trees more per- 

 tinaciously than the Gold-Crest, and does not descend so much 

 to the undergrowth. Its food consists, like that of the Gold- 

 Crest, almost entirely of insects. 



Nest. Like that of the last-named bird, and similarly slung, 

 under a bough. 



Eggs. Form five to ten, sometimes even exceeding the 



