GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 99 



THE GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 



REGULUS CRIST AT US. 



IN all the older records of Scottish ornithology the various writers 

 seem to agree as to the fact of the gold crest having been a very 

 scarce bird sixty or seventy years ago. Nor can this be wondered 

 at when it is considered that the numerous fir plantations now 

 beautifying the borders of our lakes and covering our hills with 

 their tall green spires could hardly then have been in existence. 

 But as these have increased in extent, and become the chosen 

 abode of gold-crests during the breeding season, the birds have 

 multiplied greatly, and in many places are now permanently 

 resident. Yet vast flocks appear to leave us in autumn. About 

 the end of September they make their appearance in the Wigtown- 

 shire woods in great numbers, and gradually travel southwards 

 till they get to the Mull of Galloway, where they linger until 

 a fitting opportunity occurs for taking their departure. On 

 rough nights about this time, and in the beginning of October, they 

 sometimes come back to that promontory in a bewildered state, 

 and flutter in crowds upon the lantern of the lighthouse. One of 

 the keepers Mr M'Donald showed me numbers of them when 

 I was last there, and informed me that it was the commonest 

 visitor they had. Wherever their destination may happen to 

 be, they do not return by the same route; but in the east of 

 Scotland large flights of them make their appearance suddenly 

 in April, and actually swarm in some parts of Haddingtonshire. 

 I have seen them arrive at Dunbar about day-break, and, 

 immediately after reaching the shore, cling to the rocks and 

 walls searching for insects. In such cases they were exceedingly 

 tame after their long and fatiguing flight, and allowed me to get 

 within a few paces. On one occasion I actually covered one with 

 my hat. Having rested an hour or two till the flowing tide obliged 

 them to shift to higher ground, they would then betake themselves 

 to the nearest gardens, where they literally covered the trees. 



In autumn similar flights are observable coming from the 

 surrounding country coastwards, and congregating in gardens as 

 before. I recollect seeing a very large flock at this season in 1847. 

 The little creatures took possession of a cabbage plot, and looked 

 more like a swarm of bees than a crowd of birds. On every plant 



