GOLDEN CRESTED REGULUS. 347 
Tue term Regulus proposed for the httle Gold Crest by 
our countryman Ray, has recently been adopted by several 
Naturalists both on the Continent and in England with 
generic distinction, and M. Temminck, in the Third Part 
or Supplement to the Land Birds of his Manual, though 
not in the Manual itself, has fallen into the views of mo- 
dern authorities by also admitting and recording this genus, 
of which six species are now known, three belonging to 
North America, and three others to Europe. 
These little birds exhibit many of the habits of the 
smaller warblers already described, and also many of the 
actions of the various species of the genus Parus, or Tits, 
which will be arranged here immediately after them. The 
little Golden Crested Regulus, or Kinglet, the subject of 
the present notice, has a soft and pleasing song, somewhat 
like that of the common Wren. Pennant says he has ob- 
served this bird suspended in the air for a considerable time 
over a bush in flower, whilst it sang very melodiously ; but 
as its voice is not strong, it is necessary to be advantage- 
ously placed to hear it in perfection. The call-note of this 
little bird is like that of the common Creeper. This spe- 
cies is most frequently to be observed in fir plantations, 
where these diminutive creatures, one of the smallest 
among our indigenous birds, may be seen, all life and 
activity, hopping from branch to branch, and clinging to 
them in various positions, sometimes with their backs 
downwards, busily engaged seeking various small-winged 
insects, or their hidden larva, as food, occasionally eating 
also a few seeds or small berries. They remain in this 
country all the year through; and are even observed to be 
more numerous in winter than in summer, many arriving 
here late in autumn from colder northern regions. Not- 
withstanding their diminutive size, as well as delicate 
