BRITISH BIRDS. 23 



of furze with grass blades, moss and a little wool, lined with 

 finer grass. Eggs : 4 or 5 ; greenish white, spotted closely 

 with dark olive-brown and with a few underlying lilac 

 spots ; much like eggs of common Whitethroat, but 

 markings are more distinct ; size '68 by '50. First eggs 

 are laid at end of April, there being a second brood in 

 June or July. Food : chiefly insects, with some berries. 

 Flight is undulating, but very short. If watched, skulks 

 most successfully among the thickest furze. 



GENUS XL REGULUS, Cuvier (1800). 



Bill slender, moderate, straight. Wings fairly long; first 



quill well developed, fifth longest ; tail slightly forked, the 



feathers pointed. Tarsus fairly long, slender ; claws 

 hooked. 



29. Regulus eristatus, Koeh. GOLDCREST. 



Hab. Whole of Europe, north to Arctic Circle ; also 

 temperate Asia eastward to the Amoor. Partially migra- 

 tory in winter. 



Male : forehead and cheeks greyish white ; crest 

 yellow in front, rich orange behind, bordered in front 

 with dark brown and on each side with black ; nape 

 and back olive green ; wing quills greyish brown with 

 yellowish margins ; secondaries black on lower parts with 

 whitish tips ; greater and lesser wing coverts tipped with 

 white, forming two bars ; tail feathers greyish brown 

 with yellowish margins ; under parts buffish white ; bill 

 brownish black ; iris hazel ; tarsi brown. Length 3*60. 

 Female : duller in plumage ; crest pale yellow. In young 

 birds crest is lacking. 



A fairly common resident, breeding throughout the 

 British Isles, although local in some districts. In 



