338 INSECTIVOR.E. 



third of the natural dimensions. The female has the colours 

 of the crest paler, and a greenish tinge over the whole body. 

 It is rather shorter than the common wren, though a little 

 longer in proportion in the wings, and only about half the 

 weight, being less than a drachm and a half. It is the 

 smallest of British birds, but it is one of the most active, 

 and one which endures the winter better than very many 

 larger birds. It is a forest-bird, nestling in trees, residing 

 on them, and not paying an annual visit to the neighbour- 

 hood of houses, like the common wren. Its bill is very 

 slender, straight, and awl-shaped j and it is presumed that, 

 at all seasons, it feeds upon insects. Indeed, there is little 

 vegetable food fitted for so small a bird in the places which 

 it chiefly inhabits. 



It is found in all wooded parts of the country, rather 

 plentifully in most places, and very much so in the larger 

 pine forests, which are its favourite haunts, though it is not 

 confined to them. But it is so small, generally so far from 

 the ground, and always so quick in its motions, that it is 

 not easily seen, and never long at a time. It is continually 

 hunting both on the rough bark of the boles and main 

 branches and on the twigs ; but it appears to prefer the 

 latter. The command which these little birds have of 

 themselves in the trees, is really astonishing. They whisk 

 about more like meteors than like beings of solid matter. 

 They are now on this side, no\? on that ; now above the 

 twig, now hanging inverted under it the body never at rest, 

 and the head having generally an additional motion. 



The male sings early, though the time of the year of 

 course varies with the season. In warm situations it sings 

 in February, and the young are sometimes fledged in April. 

 The nest is not very easily discovered, as it is always in a 

 thick branch if in a pine forest, and if in other trees it is in 

 a closely tufted place, or between ivy and the bole, where 



