100 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



there were half-a-dozen or more perched, some busied in looking 

 for insects, others bathing in the rain water which had collected 

 on the broad leaves. I walked through the plot, and with a 

 butterfly net caught ten or twelve specimens. Some of these lived 

 in confinement for a fortnight, and were supplied regularly with 

 insects. They became tame almost immediately, and were allowed 

 the full use of an attic room facing the sea which they had intended 

 crossing. They frequently perched on my hand when held out to 

 them, and were most interesting pets; but a single night's frost 

 killed them all. I have repeatedly since observed this fatal sensi- 

 tiveness to frost when in a state of captivity, but I cannot learn 

 whether they have naturally a delicate constitution. 



I have not traced this diminutive bird to the Outer Hebrides, 

 but I have no doubt it will yet be found in one or other of these 

 islands especially in Lewis, where the fir plantations near Storno- 

 way must ultimately attract the species. It is frequent in Skye 

 and Islay, and probably in many of the other Inner Hebrides 

 where larches have been freely planted. 



THE FIRE-CRESTED WREN. 

 REGULUS IGNICAPILLUS. 



VERY little can be said of the fire-crest as a Scottish species. Its 

 occurrence, indeed, in any part of Britain, has chiefly been noted 

 in the southern and eastern counties of England, ranging as far as 

 Durham; and the only specimen killed north of that district is 

 the one referred to in the " Birds of East Lothian," by Dr W. P. 

 Turnbull. It was shot by the author himself in Gladsmuir 

 woods in the summer of 1848. It appears to be totally un- 

 known in western Scotland. 



THE RUBY CROWNED WREN. 

 REGULUS CALENDULA. 



IN the summer of 1852, Dr Dewar of Glasgow shot a specimen of 

 this North American species in Kenmore wood, on the banks of 

 Loch Lomond. The bird was exhibited at a meeting of the 

 Natural History Society of Glasgow, on 27th April, 1858, and 

 identified by me. Dr Dewar stated that he had found it in com- 



