O F B I R D S. 333 



It is of a timorous and fhy nature, but taken young and brought 

 up, it is very gentle and familiar ; and for winter's warmth will 

 fing in 'the night, as well as in the day, and learn the notes of 

 other birds. 



34. The Golden-crowned Wren (mj, an elegant little bird, is a 

 fummer-inhabitant of our alpine woods, and has been fhot on 

 the fea-coaft in September, before its departure to a warmer cli- 

 mate. It is of the fize of the common wren, but looks lefs from 

 the feathers lying clofer, and fmoother. It is very near fcveu 

 inches between the tips of the wings extended. The beak is 

 near half an inch long, flcnder, flraight, and black ; the tongue 

 long and bifid ; the eyes encircled with white ; an oblong fpot 

 of beautiful faffron-yellow extended between them from the 

 beak beyond the crown of the head, contracted and dilated at 

 pleafure, fo as either to fhew or conceal its beauty. For this 

 iingularity, the Tufcans call it the Marigold-Flower. This admired 

 faffron-tinct is marginated with yellow and black. The fides 

 of the neck are a glofTy yellowifh-green ; the upper part of the 

 neck, and back, a yellowifh-green and grey, variegated ; the 

 wings black and yellow, in a neat variegation, with a narrow 

 tranfverfe bar of white towards the middle ; the breaft and belly 

 a pale yellowim-white, with a tinge of green. The tail is an 

 inch and a half long, grey, and edged with a yellowifh-green. 

 The legs and feet are a dufky yellow. It lives upon infects. Its 

 fmallnefs, and the foliage of its favourite tree the oak, make it 

 feldom obferved. The late Francis Fofter, of Felton, Efq; fhot one 

 near that place, which he prefented to Mrs. Thompfon of Northum- 



(m) Regulus criflatus. Will. Orn. p. 163. t. 41. Raj. Av. p. 79. n. 9. Char/et. Av. 

 p. 95. n. I. Motacilla remigibus fecundariis exteriore margine flavis, medio nigris. Linn. 

 Faun. Suec. p. 87. n. 235. 



lerland- 



