166 BUBY-GBOWNED KINGLET. 



bushes, the former are generally seen on the top branches of high 

 trees. I have not observed a similar difference in Regulus tricolor. 

 The rich vermilion spot on the head in the parent species was 

 wanting in the young, that part being of the same plain colour as 

 the back. 



I have found this bird in Kentucky also during winter, but 

 generally in southern exposures, and usually in company with the 

 Brown Creeper and Titmouse. 



The little bird of which I speak appears to feed entirely on 

 insects and their larvee, and I have often thought it wonderful that 

 there should seem to be no lack of food for it even during weather 

 sometimes too cold for the birds themselves. It seems to migrate 

 during the day only, and merely by passing from bush to bush, 

 or hopping among the twigs until a large piece of water happens 

 to come in its way, when it rises obliquely to the height of above 

 twenty yards, and then proceeds horizontally in short undulations. 

 It emits a feeble chirp at almost every motion. So swiftly, however, 

 does it perform its migrations from Louisiana to Newfoundland and 

 Labrador, that although it sometimes remains in the first of these 

 countries until late in March, it has young in the latter by the end 

 of June, and the brood is able to accompany the old birds back to 

 the south in the beginning of August. 



The adult male in summer plumage has the bill short, straight, 

 subulate, very slender, and compressed, with inflated edges; upper 

 mandible nearly straight in its dorsal outline, the edges scarcely notched 

 close upon the slightly declinate acute tip; lower mandible straight and 

 acute. Nostrils basal, elliptical, half closed above by a membrane 

 covered over by feathers. The whole form is slender, although the 

 bird looks somewhat bulky, on account of the loose texture of the 

 feathers. Legs rather long; tarsus slender, longer than the middle toe, 

 much compressed, and covered anteriorly with a few indistinct 

 scutella; toes scutellate above, the lateral ones nearly equal and free, 

 hind toe stouter; claws weak, compressed, arched, and acute. 



Plumage very loose and tufty. Short bristles at the base of the 

 bill. Feathers of the head elongated and silky. Wings of ordinary 

 length, third and fourth primaries longest. Tail of twelve feathers, 

 emarginate, and of ordinary length; bill black, yellow at the base of 

 the lower, and on the edges of the upper mandible. Tris light brown; 

 feet yellowish brown, the under parts yellow. The general colour of 

 the upper parts is dull olivaceous, lighter behind. The eye is 

 encircled with greyish white, of which colour also are the tips of the 

 wing coverts; quills and tail dusky, edged with greenish yellow; the 



