202 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



birds lack the beautiful golden crest of their parents. 

 See Plate 13, Fig. 69. 



The Golden-crowned Kinglet takes the place of the 

 preceding species in America. This pretty little bird 

 has a crown of bright orange colour, bordered by black 

 and yellow. The general tint of the upper part of the 

 body is greyish-green, the lower part whitish. This 

 bird is often associated in migration with another 

 species, the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, which has a 

 bright red crown, more or less concealed, but otherwise 

 closely resembles it. Like the European species, these 

 birds build, elaborate nests, which they suspend from 

 the end of branches — usually from evergreen trees. 

 The song of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet is mellow and 

 flute-like, that of its Golden-crov/ned cousin shriller 

 and not so pleasing to the ear. 



Among the common Old World species figured are 

 the Wood-wren, the Marsh-warbler, and the Icter- 

 ine Warbler, whose relatives are the Sedge- and Reed- 

 warblers, and the Chiff-chaff. The Reed-warbler 

 builds a most interesting nest. It is shaped like a deep 

 cup, and is fixed at the sides to the tall stems of reeds, 

 giving them the appearance of growing up through 

 the nest. So skilfully is this nursery built, that when 

 the reeds bend low over the water, the eggs or young 

 rest securely at the bottom of the nest. See Plate 13, 

 Figs. 64, 67, 70. 



Though many of the Warblers, such as the Sedge-, 

 Reed- and Marsh-warblers, show a preference for 

 swamps and inland water, a great number of species, 

 on the other hand, inhabit dry localities. Between 



