374 DIVISION I. VEIiTEBRAL ANIMALS. — CLASS II. AVES. 



The Ivuby-C-rown i.s quite a common spring and autumn visitor in New 

 England and its latitude, arriving from tiie south from April the lotii to 

 the :.'Otli in tlie ditferent States. They are generally first seen in evergreen 

 woods, but later are found among the opening foliage and blossoms of 

 forest and oreliard trees, partictdarly the oak, elm, maple, and ap[ile, dart- 

 ing about, climbing on the small twigs, and jirying in all directions in 

 search of minute flying insects, their eggs and larvie, frequenting the topa 

 of the trees as well as the lower branches, liy the 12th of May they depart 

 for the north to rear their young, breeding in Canada, Lalirador, &c. 

 From about the first of October to the hiht of that month they are again 

 with us, and are seen diligently engaged in pursuit of food iu our woods 

 and orchards. 



They are not shy in their habits, and will permit one to approach quite 

 near them. We have noticed that they remain in one cluster of twigs until 

 it is completely cleared of insects, and they often employ several minutes in 

 searching it completely. 



The Ruby-Crown winters in the more Southern States of the Union, and 

 in ]Mexico. On clear, fine days in spring, we ha^e heard this bird warble a 

 beautiful song ; and it has also a [jcculiar guttural, querulous call-note, which 

 often precedes this song. 



The Golden-crested Wren is also a common bird, coming to us from the 

 north the last of Scptemljer, but, unlike the preceding, bra\ing the rigors 

 of our winter ; and it leaves again by the l.'uli of April. Numbers, how- 

 ever, winter in the south ; and it is in spring and autumn that the species is 

 most abundant. On their .arrival in autumn, they frequent orchard trees, 

 feeding among the leaves of the apple trees, which, at this season, are in- 

 fested with insects. Later, and in winter, they resort more often to the 

 evergreens, such as the pine, spruce, and ceilar, but rove wherever they 

 can findfjod, generally in cumpauy with the chickadees, and occasionally the 

 white-l)rcasted nuthatch, brown cree[)er, and downy woodpecker — the whole 

 forming a lively, busy winter party, as they move about the country, intent 

 on gathering their now scanty food. Their call-note at this season, indeed 

 the only note that we have heard at any time, is a faint pi[)e or whistle, 

 sounded quickly three or four times. "We have never heard this bird utter 

 the querulous note assigned to it by jVudubon and Nuttall, but have often 

 lieard the rubv-crown gi\'e this strain. In spring, having similar habits and 

 diet with the ruliy-crowns, they frequent the same hunting-grounds, and are 

 seen hanging to the extremities of twigs, head downwards, and sometimes 

 fluttering in the air in front of them, seizing small flies, "and often ex[)os- 

 ing the golden feathers of their head, which are opened and shut with great 

 adroitness." The liuby-Crown is only a little over four inches iu length ; is 



