THE GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 



355 



The tiny Golden-crested Wren, as it is popularly called, is very 

 common throughout England, and may be seen hopping and flitting 

 merrily among the branches in copses, orchards, and plantations. Al- 

 though from its diminutive size it has gained the title of Wren, it has 

 no claim to that designation, and is more rightly termed the Kinglet, 

 or Regulus. 



The Golden-crested Wren is notable for the crest of golden-colored 

 feathers which is placed upon the crown of its head, which it can raise 

 or depress at pleasure, _^^ ^ 



and which gives so • ?^^^^^^^Hj&lll^^^^*^^^ ^S^ 



pert and changeful 

 an expression to the 

 little creature. But 

 for this golden crest, 

 which is not at all 

 conspicuous when the 

 feathers are lowered, 

 the bird might easily 

 be mistaken for a 

 tree-creeper as it 

 runs up and down 

 the branches, search- 

 ing in the crevices of 

 the bark for the little 

 insects on which it 

 feeds. The first spe- 

 cimen that I ever saw 

 was traversing the 

 branches of a fine 

 " Blenheim Orange " 

 apple tree in an ad- 

 joining garden, and 

 by my inexperienced eyes was at first taken for a very young creeper. 

 Like the creeper, it can even run up a perpendicular wall, peering into 

 every little crevice, and stocking up the moss and lichens for the pur- 

 pose of obtaining the insects and their eggs that are lying concealed. 

 It will also eat the chrysalides that are found so abundantly upon the 

 walls. 



All the movements of the Golden-crested Wren are full of spring 

 and fiery activity, and the manner in which it will launch itself from 

 one tree to another, and then, without a pause, commence traversing 

 the branches, is a sight well worth seeing. Perhaps the bird is seen to 

 best advantage among the fir trees, where it finds great scope for its 

 active habits. Up one branch it scuds, down another, then whisks 



The Tailor-bird {Orthotomus longicaudus 



