( 476 ) 



AMERICAN GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 



Regulus tricolor, Nuttall. 



PLATE CLXXXIII. Male and Female. 



This active little bird breeds in Labrador, where I saw it feeding its 

 young in August, when the species appeared already moving southward ; 

 but although it was common there and in Newfoundland, as was the 

 Ruby-crowned Regulus, we did not succeed in our search for its nest. 

 It enters the United States late in September, and continues its journey 

 ieyond their limits, as I have met Avith it on the borders of our most 

 Southern Districts during winter. Individuals remain in all the Southern 

 and Western States the whole of that season, and leave them again about 

 the beginning of March. 



They generally associate in groups, composed each of a whole family, 

 and feed in company with the Titmice, Nuthatches, and Brown Creepers, 

 perambulating the tops of trees and bushes, sometimes in the very depth 

 of the forests or the most dismal swamps, while at other times they ap- 

 proach the plantations, and enter the gardens and yards. Their move- 

 ments are always extremely lively and playful. They follow minute in- 

 sects on the wing, seize them among the leaves of the pines, or search for 

 the larvae in the chinks of tlie branches. Like the Titmice they are seen 

 hanging to the extremities of twigs and bunches of leaves, sometimes 

 fluttering in the air in front of them, and are uncea.singly occupied. They 

 have no song at this season, but merely emit now and then a low screep. 



On the 23d of January last, while in company with my friend John 

 Bachman, I saw great numbers of them in the woods near Charleston, 

 searching for food high in the trees as well as low down, and so careless 

 of us, that although we would approach within a few feet of them, they 

 were not in the least disconcerted. Their feeble chirp was constantly re- 

 peated. We killed a great number of them in hopes of finding among 

 them some individuals of the species known under the name of Regulus 

 ignicapillus, but in this we did not succeed. At times they uttered a 

 strong querulous note, somewhat resembling that of the Black-headed 

 Titmouse. The young had acquired their full plumage, but the fe- 

 males were more abundant than the males. At this season the yellow 



