24 BRITISH BIRDS. 



spring frequents woods and plantations where coniferous 

 trees and evergreens are to be found, but in winter is more 

 generally distributed. Nest : usually suspended below end 

 of the horizontal branch of a fir, yew, or similar tree ; 

 height up to about 10 feet ; constructed of green moss, 

 bound together with fine grass, spiders' webs, wool, etc. ; 

 lined with a quantity of small feathers. Eggs : 5 to 10, 

 laid in April or May ; yellowish or buffish white, speckled 

 round larger end with reddish-brown ; size '54 by '40. 

 Feeds upon insects which it seeks in low bushes, as well 

 as upon gnarled trees ; in winter moves with small bands 

 of titmice, etc. Call note : a shrill weak tzit, tzit. Low 

 sweet song of male is a repetition of chiwit^ chiwit, 

 chiwit, chiwit. 



30. Regulus ignieapillus (Temm.). FIRE-CREST. 



Hab. Southern and Western Europe, north and east to 

 Germany and Southern Russia, also Asia Minor and 

 Northern Africa. In winter partially migratory. 



Male : forehead yellowish ; crest rich orange, bordered 

 on each side with black, below which is a white line, and 

 below this again a narrow black streak passing through 

 the eye and bordered beneath by a second white line, 

 separating it from an indistinct blackish line which starts 

 from the gape ; nape yellowish-green ; mantle olive- 

 green ; wing-feathers brown, margined with yellowish- 

 green ; greater coverts with a bar of white across tips ; 

 tail-feathers brown, with yellowish * margins ; lower 

 plumage brownish-white ; bill black ; tarsi brown. 

 Length 375. Female has crest pale yellow. Young lack 

 crest, but show a distinguishing blackish line through eye. 



A casual winter visitor ; occurs almost annually on the 

 south coast of England ; unknown in Ireland and almost 

 so in Scotland. 



