NATURE'S CAROL SINGERS. 



THE GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 



THE Golden-crested Wren, 

 or Gold-crest, as it is fre- 

 quently called, has the dis- 

 tinction of being our 

 smallest British bird, mea- 

 suring only three and a 

 half inches in length. It 

 is a widely distributed 

 resident, and breeds com- 

 paratively close to London 

 and other large towns. On 

 the forehead and round 

 the eyes it is whitish, 

 tinged with olive-green. Crown pale 

 orange in front and bright yellow 

 towards the hind part. The feathers 

 are somewhat lengthened, and form a 

 crest bounded on either side by a streak 

 of black. Upper parts olive-green ; 

 wings dusky black with two transverse 

 white bars. Tail quills dusky, edged with 

 yellowish-green. Under parts yellowish- 

 grey, inclining to buff on throat, breast. 



