BIRDS OF GUERNSEY. 57 



than the female Gold-crest. In point of fact the 

 colour of the crest is of no value whatever in dis- 

 tinguishing between the birds, and the "practised 

 eye " would find itself puzzled if it only relied 

 upon that. 



The French name for the Fire-crest, however, 

 " Eoitelet a triple bandeau," is much more descrip- 

 tive, as under the golden part of the crest there is 

 a streak of black, and under that again a streak of 

 white over the eye, and a streak of black through 

 the eye ; there is also a streak, or rather perhaps a 

 spot of white, under the eye. The Gold-crest has 

 only the streak of black immediately under the 

 gold crest ; below that the whole of the side of the 

 face and the space immediately surrounding the 

 eye is a uniform dull olive-green. If this distinction 

 is once known and attended to the difference between 

 the two birds may be immediately detected by even 

 the unpractised eye. 



A very interesting account of the nesting of this 

 bird is given by Mr, Dresser, in his * Birds of 

 Europe,' he having made a journey to Altenkirchen, 

 where the Fire-crest is numerous, on purpose to 

 watch it in the breeding- season. The nest he 

 describes as very like that of the Golden-crest ; the 

 eggs also are much like those of that bird, though 

 a little redder in colour. 



The Fire-crest is not mentioned in Professor 

 Ansted's list, and there is no specimen at present 

 in the Museum. 



