THE GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 181 



borne gives it, — who says : "Its note, which is continually 

 repeated, and often attended with odd gesticulations on 

 the wing, is harsh and unpleasing. These birds," he con- 

 tinues, "seem of a pugnacious disposition, for they sincr 

 with an erected crest and attitudes of rivalry and defiance. 

 They are shy and wild in breeding time, avoiding neigh- 

 bourhoods, and haunting lonely lanes and commons — nay, 

 even the very tops of the downs, where there are bushes 

 and coverts ; but in July and August they bring their 

 broods into gardens, and make great havoc among the 

 summer fruits." For our own part, we do not believe that 

 the ill they do by pilfering our fruit outbalances the good 

 they do by destroying the insects ; and as for their song, 

 we hold that it is a cheerful, vigorous, and pleasant 

 strain. 



One other of the Warblers deserves a special notice — 

 the Golden-crested Wren, or Gold-crowned Knight, the 

 smallest of British and European birds. It loves the 

 forest-shades, where it employs its straight, slender, taper- 

 ing bill in hunting out its insect prey. A beautiful though 

 tiny bird, with plumage varying from yellowish brown to 

 brownish gray, very soft and silky ; and with a crest of 

 bright orange feathers on its little head, which shines like 

 a mimic diadem. But we can say nothing of it which has 

 not been better said by Bishop Mant : — 



*' And such, with voice so sweet and small, 

 From oaken twig, the madrigal 

 Of him the Bird of Golden Crest, 

 And size diminutive, the least 

 Of Britain's Warblers. To the ear 

 More frequent through the waning year 



