Birds of Oregon and Washington 235 



bordered with bright yellow, enclosed by black line; 

 white line over the eye. 



Female : Similar, but center of crown, lemon-yellow, 

 and grayish underneath. 



Permanent resident. 



THE RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION : 



Upper parts : generally the same in color as, but 



a little duller than, the golden-crowned Kinglet. 



Under parts : light yellowish-gray ; vermilion-red 



crown, usually concealed. 

 Length, 3.75 to 4.6 inches. 

 Found generally distributed. 



The habits of this bird are nearly identical 

 with those of the Golden-crowned Kinglet, but 

 he is a superior singer. His song is a marvel 

 of beauty and strength ; he is always generous 

 with it, even in winter pouring his sweet notes 

 upon the cold air, perhaps in memory of past, or 

 in contemplation of future, love and home. 



Dr. Coues (one of America's greatest bird- 

 students) remarks, concerning the phenomenal 

 strength of the song of this little bird : " The 

 sound-producing organ is not larger than a pin- 

 head, and the muscles that move it are almost 



