BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 321 



GENUS RBGULUS CUVIER. 

 Regulus satrapa LIGHT. 



Golden -crowned Kinglet. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 48). 



Length about 4 ; extent about 6.50 ; legs brownish-yellow ; feet yellowish ; bill 

 black. Upper parts olive-green ; wings and tail dusky, edged with yellowish ; 

 crown (adult male) bordered in front, also on sides, with black, embracing a central 

 patch of fiery orange-red encircled by yellow. The female has no flame-colored 

 patch ; crown is entirely yellow, margined with black ; wing and tail-feathers edged 

 with yellowish ; lower parts dull whitish. 



" Female, first plumage. Pileum (including forehead) dark smoky-brown ; line 

 over the eye entirely cut off at its anterior corner by the junction of the dusky lores 

 with the brown of the forehead ; tertiaries broadly tipped with white ; breast 

 strongly washed with pale brown color ; otherwise like adult. From a specimen in 

 my collection taken at Upton, Me., August 25, 1874. A young male taken August 

 25, 1873, is in every way similiar. A good series of specimens of various ages shot 

 during August and the early part of September illustrate well the transitional 

 stages. First the brown of the pileum darkens into two black stripes, while the line 

 over the eye broadens to meet its external margin. Next, two lines of yellow feath- 

 ers appear inside and parallel with the black ones, while the orange of the central 

 space (of the male) is produced last" (Brewster, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, June, 1878, 

 19). From Orn. of 111. 



Habitat. North America generally, breeding in the northern and elevated parts 

 of the United States and northward, migrating south in winter to Guatemala. 



Common winter resident from about the middle of October to the 

 middle of April. This species is most numerous in October, November, 

 March and April, or when migrating south and north. The Golden- 

 crowned Kinglet frequents the tops of tall forest trees as well as low 

 bushes, and frequently, particularly when migrating in the spring and 

 fall, is found, in company with the Kuby -crowned Kinglet (R. calendula), 

 in apple orchards. Kinglets are generally seen in small flocks. They 

 feed on various forms of insect life ; they are very expert in capturing 

 small insects upon the wing, and destroy great numbers of plant-lice, 

 spiders, flies, ants, besides devouring large numbers of insect eggs and 

 larv?e. 



Mr. Robert Ridgway (Ornithology of Illinois, p. 76) says: " The deli- 

 cate little Golden-crowned Kinglet smaller even than the Ruby-crown 

 is known in Illinois, and, indeed, in all portions of the United States, 

 except the northern coniferous woods and similar forests of the higher 

 mountains, only as a winter visitant or resident. He is most often seen 

 during clear frosty mornings in midwinter, and seems particularly in his 

 element when the trees are decked with an icy covering of sleet when 

 the woods appear like fairy land, and the pure crisp air instills fresh 

 vigor to those who sally forth to enjoy its exhilarating influence. Then 

 the little gold-crests may be seen in woods or parks in scattered troops, 

 nimbly hunting among the crystal branches, now hanging, in titmouse 

 21 BIRDS. 



