FAM: REGULEIDZAs 
Or 
Characters. Bill small and slender; culmen much shorter than head, depressed at base, 
where its width considerably exceeds its depth; culmen straight, only extreme tip distinctly 
decurved, with a slight subterminal notch; gonys straight. Nostrils longitudinal, small, over- 
hung by a distinct operculum, partly covered either by numerous, bristle-like plumules or by 
a single well-developed feather. Rictal bristles soft, moderately developed. Wing rather long, 
rounded at tip; fourth and fifth primaries longest, third and sixth but little shorter and nearly 
equal; first primary about one-third as long as second, but never attaining half its length. 
Tail about three-fourths as long as wing, distinctly emarginate, the rectrices becoming 
somewhat broader terminally, with pointed tip. Tarsus long and slender, about one-third as 
long as wing, much longer than middle toe with claw; acrotarsium booted; claws strongly 
curved; basal phalanx of middle toe coherent to outer toe for most of its length, to inner toe 
for about half its length. Plumage copious and lax. 
Coloration. Olive-green or olive-greyish above, rump in one species (F. goodfellow?) 
bright canary yellow. Wings dusky with pale edgings and two whitish bands; crown with 
a half-concealed patch of yellow, orange or red, this patch margined with yellow and inclosed 
between two stripes of black, except in 2. calendula; adult females also with a brightly-coloured 
crown-patch (except in FR. calendula). Young similar to adults, but without black, yellow, 
orange or red on crown. 
Geographical Distribution. Nearctic and Palearctic Region, ranging southwards to 
the Himalayas, mountains of tropical China, and the island of Formosa, 
Habits. In habits, the Gold-crests closely resemble the Tits, inhabit principally 
coniferous forests and feed on insects. The nest is a very bulky, more or less pensile, structure, 
attached to small twigs in spruce or other coniferous trees, composed of delicate plant fibers, 
mosses and various soft materials. The eggs are minutely spotted or flecked with brown on a 
white or buffy ground colour, The clutch consits of from five to ten eggs. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF REGULUS 
1. Nostrils covered by numerous, small, bristle-like plumules. No white 
superciliary stvipe. Adult males with a large, vermilion-ved patch on 
(CUD. Wein ON eo Moe OAT era a rE a eli eA eral to cio vn ig SRA) to ga Sop ee al), “BE 
— Nostrils covered by a single, rather stiff, well-developed feather. With a 
distinct whitish superciliary stripe. Both sexes with a brightly-coloured 
COMER HER 5 6 9 8 6 6 6 6 op 
2. Paley, with longer wing and shorter bill : wing more than 58 mm. in 
OIC DRIOV EMU UMN OL TLIUEA ILO CML CLES xs FV) yh ley eee een eer etn Genes 
— Darker, with shorter wing and longer bill : wing less than 57mm. in male, 
lessithian oowauimiiyjonaltl, “= 5 a jan @ GS ea) Gy Me ee en We ee teen ep des 
3. General colour of upper parts more greenish olive . . . . . . . 7. R. CALENDULA CALENDULA. 
— General colour of upper parts move greyish olvwe. . . . . . . . 18. R. CALENDULA CINERACEUS. 
4. Larger : wing of male 56, of female 54; bill S-gmm. . . . . . 19. R. CALENDULA GRINNELLI. 
— Smaller : wing of male 54,5, of female S50; billtomm.. . . . . 20. R. CALENDULA OBSCURUS. 
5. Lowey back and upper tail coverts bright canary yellow, strongly con- 
