GOLDCREST. 



REGULUS CRISTATUS. 



Family PASSERID^. Sub-family PARING. Genus REGULUS. 

 Golden-crested Wren Golden-crested Kinglet. 



The Goldcrest is our smallest British bird, and is 

 much more common throughout the British Isles than 

 is generally suspected. Its small size may possibly 

 account for this. Some years ago at Queenwood, 

 one of our number had the curiosity to weigh a 

 specimen which he had picked up drowned, and was 

 surprised to find that it just weighed down a three- 

 penny bit, but that a " fourpenny " was considerably 

 heavier. Is it not marvellous that a full-grown bird, 

 with all its flesh, bones and feathers should only just 

 outweigh our smallest silver coin ? It is a very early 

 bird to reach our shores, arriving at the end of March, 

 and leaving again at the beginning of October. Many 

 of them, however, stay with us through the winter, 

 when they may be seen congregating in flocks, but in 



