THE GOLDEN-CRESTED WEEN. 337 



they come for crumbs, or anything eatable that they can 

 pick up, when the severe weather sets in. 



They also render considerable service in the capture of 

 worms. Young earthworms are very plentiful in the earlier 

 months of the autumn ; and when the weather is humid, 

 they come out in vast numbers, and are carefully watched 

 by the redbreasts. They approach the worms, or indeed any 

 prey that is on the ground, by very light and rapid hops ; 

 and when they have got within their distance, they pounce 

 on it with great certainty. The worm is seized by the head 

 and beaten against a stone or the hard ground, till all the 

 earthy matter in the canal is discharged, before it is eaten. 



By the time that the redbreasts come into the shrubberie 

 and gardens in the autumn, the flies have become rather dull 

 and heavy in their flight ; and thus the birds can pounce 

 upon them with not much more difficulty than they find 

 with the worms, whose sense is so acute, that they would 

 escape even at the concussion produced by a redbreast, if it 

 were to alight close beside them from the wing. But in 

 summer, the capture of flies is a little more arduous ; and 

 when the bird observes one upon a leaf, it hovers round and 

 round, something in the same way that a butterfly does 

 round a flower, till it has got near enough for making its 

 pounce. At that time, also, worms form a considerable part 

 of the prey ; and as the young birds are rather numerous 

 and grow fast, the labour of the old ones is incessant. 

 Though shy to his neighbours, the male is very attentive to 

 his mate, never goes to any great distance, and continues 

 to encourage her with his song during the whole period of 

 incubation. 



THE GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN (Regulus aUTWapillus). 



A figure of the golden-crested wren, the male in full 

 plumage, is given on the plate at page 354, on a scale of one 



VOL, I. Z 



