THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 



freckled with brownish red, chiefly on the larger end, and 

 sometimes so suffused over the entire surface as to con- 

 ceal the ground colour. During the breeding season the 

 male has a sweet little song, but I have frequently heard 

 this species warble delightfully in autumn. The young 

 and their parents usually remain in company until the 

 following spring. 



The adult Goldcrest has the upper parts yellowish 

 olive-green ; two black lines reach from each side of the 

 forehead, enclosing the flaming orange-yellow crest ; the 

 wings and tail are brown, with yellowish margins to the 

 feathers, and the former have two white bars. The under 

 parts are greyish brown. Bill dark brown ; tarsi and 

 toes brown ; irides brown. Length nearly 3! inches. 

 The nestling has no black lines on the head, and the 

 yellow crest is absent. 



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