PLATE I 

 GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. Regulus cristatus 



June \st t 1893. This nest was fully eighteen feet from the ground, on the 

 very point of a branch of a weeping spruce-fir, overhanging the river Teith, 

 near Doune, Perthshire. 



It was beautifully made of moss and little bits of sticks felted together 

 with cobwebs, and a few bits of lichen stuck on outside ; it contained ten very 

 highly incubated eggs. The photographing of it was rather a difficult task, 

 as I wanted to take it in situ for my book. I was rather puzzled as to how 

 to get it done, but I managed it as follows : I fastened a piece of light rope 

 to the ends of two branches on the same side of the tree and about the same 

 height up, and carried the other end a good bit up the tree, making it fast 

 to the trunk and pulling it tight. I then got out along the branches and 

 held on by the rope, letting myself and camera down till the two branches 

 were under my arms and my feet rested on some branches below; from this 

 point of vantage I focussed my camera and took two photos, with the 

 result in the Plate. 



The old birds did not betray the least anxiety during the whole of the 

 performance, but kept hopping about from twig to twig, calling to each other, 

 and peering at me through the branches with great interest ; the female came 

 within two or three feet of me several times without the slightest fear. The 

 male kept pretty much to the top of the tree, and warbled his little song 

 in the bright sunlight. 



VOL. n. H 29 



