86 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



about the furze, lighting for a moment upon the 

 very point of the sprigs, and instantly diving out 

 of sight again, singing out their angiy impatient 

 ditty for ever the same. Perched on the outside 

 of a good tall nag, and riding quietly along tlie 

 outside, while the fox-hounds have been drawing 

 the furze fields, I liave seen the tops of the furze 

 quite alive witli these birds. They are, however, 

 very hard to slioot ; darting down directly they 

 see the flasli or hear the cap crack, I do not kno^v 

 which. I have seen excellent shots miss them, 

 while rabbit-shooting with beagles. They prefer 

 those places where the fm*ze is very thick, high, and 

 difficult to get in." 



This bird has been found in Surrey, Devonshire, 

 Cornwall, and Kent, and is believed to remain 

 with us throughout the year. Its food consists of 

 various insects. 



Smaller tlian any other bird whose song gives 

 music to our spring woods, is the delicate Gold- 

 Crest,* or Gold-crested Wren, or Marigold Finch, 



* The Gold-crest is three inches and a half in length. Upper 

 parts Tello^^^sh-olive ; wing blackish, crossed by two narrow bands 

 of white, and a broad iutennipted one of black; crouTi-feathers 

 bright yellow tipped with orange, the cro\\Ti bordered with black ; 

 under parts yellowish-grey; beak black; feet brown. 



