60 FIRE-CRESTED WREN. 
the year; its numbers being augmented in winter by migrants 
from the north. In Madeira it is represented by &. maderensis, 
with dull-gold crest, dark grey nape, and no black streak behind the 
eye; while a form with greyish-white lores found in the Canaries 
was distinguished by Seebohm as R. tenerife. 
The nest of the Fire-crest is similar to that of the Golden-crest ; 
but the 7-10 eggs may always be recognized by the much redder 
tinge of their ground-colour and spots : measurements °52 by “42 in. 
In Germany the branches of a fir-tree are almost invariably selected, 
the nest being seldom found in larches; and the same trees are 
frequented year after year. In the above country nesting does 
not begin before May; but in the south of Spain the young are 
able to fly by the middle of that month. Insects and spiders 
constitute the food. In the Pyrenees, with excellent opportunities 
for observing the habits of both species, I noticed that the Fire- 
crest was much more restless and erratic in its movements, darting 
away suddenly after a very short stay upon the gorse-bush or tree 
where it was feeding, and being often seen alone or in parties of two 
or three at most; whereas the Golden-crests, five or six together, 
would work steadily round the same bush, and, if I remained quiet, 
would stop there for many minutes. The note of the Fire-crest is 
a soft z2¢, zz?. 
The adult male has a golden frontal band, which unites on each 
side with a white streak passing above and behind the eye, and 
separating a parallel black line from the broader and blacker upper 
bands which enclose the rich orange yellow crest. This black line 
through the eye is one of the principai features which distinguish 
the Fire-crest from the Golden-crest ; another important characteristic 
being the sulphur-green tint on the sides of the neck and shoulders. 
From the gape runs a third and smaller black streak. Mantle olive- 
green ; wings and tail brown, margined with yellowish-green ; the 
former doubly barred on the upper parts with brown and white ; 
under parts dull buffish-white ; bill black; legs and feet brown. 
Length 3°7 in.; wing 2°1 in. The female differs in having a paler 
crest. The young bird has no crest until after the first moult, but 
the characteristic triple band is always indicated. 
An example of the American Ruby-crowned Wren, 2. calendula, 
now in the British Museum, is sa/d to have been shot near Loch 
Lomond in 1852, by the late Dr. Dewar, in whose cabinet this very 
conspicuous bird lay unrecorded for six years, when it was recognized 
by the late R. Gray! 
