100 NEST, EGGS AND MANNERS OF THE GOLD-CREST 



between the wintering ranges of the two; for the present 

 species winters regularly and readily in the United States at 

 large — even so far north as New England and Washington 

 Territory. 



Dr. Brewer states that the nest and eggs had not been de- 

 scribed at the time of his writing; nevertheless, a few lines fur- 

 ther on he quotes Mr. Lord's account of "ai)ensile nest sus- 

 pended from the extreme end of a piue branch ", while the open- 

 ing paragraph of the article in which the statement occurs 

 gives the reference to Biideker's figure and desciii)tion of the 

 egg. The plate indicates a rather roundish egg, though the 

 two specimens figured differ noticeably in size and sha|)e ; they 

 are spoken of in the text as — "■niedliche Ideine Eierchen mit 

 lehmgelben Fleclcchen aiif weissem Orvnde", and compared with 

 those of other species illustrated on the same plate. Various 

 authors' accounts of the period at which newly fledged young 

 were observed by them render it probable that two broods are 

 annuallj' reared. 



I have long been familiar with the- resorts and the sprightly 

 ways of the Golden-crest; but these scarcely call for remark 

 after what has been said about the Ruby-crown, since their hab- 

 its and manners are closely correspondent. In peering about 

 for insects and larvie that lurk in the chinks of bark, it is 

 equally tireless, and makes the same show of petty turbu- 

 lence — another " tempest in a teai)ot". The song I am not 

 sure I have ever recognized, and most aul;hors have passed 

 it over. Dr. Brewer says: — "Without having so loud or so 

 pDwt-rful a note as the Itiiby-crown, for its song will admit of 

 no comparison with the wonderful vocal powers of tliat species, 

 it yet has a quite distinctive and prolonged succession of pleas- 

 ing notes, wliich I have beard it pour forth in the midst of the 

 most inclement weather in February almost uninterruptedly, 

 and for quite an interval." 



Subfamily POLIOPTILINiE : Gnatcatchers 



CnARS. — Tarsi scutellate. Toes very short, the lateral only 

 abi)Ut luilf as long as the tarsus ; outer a little longer tlian the 

 inner. First quill spurious, about half as long as the second. 

 Wings rounded, not longt;r than the graduated tail, the feathers 



