tts 
86 GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 
kinds of small flies, which it frequently seizes on wing. As it retires 
still farther north to breed, it is seldom seen in Pennsylvama from 
May to October; but is then numerous in orchards, feeding among the 
leaves of the apple-trees, which, at that season, are infested with vast 
numbers of small, black-winged insects. Its chirp is feeble, not much 
louder than that of a mouse; though, where it breeds, the male is said 
to have a variety of sprightly notes. It builds its nest frequently on 
the branches of an evergreen, covers it entirely round, leaving a small 
hole on one side for entrance, forming it outwardly of moss and 
lichens, and lining it warmly with down. The female lays six or 
eight eggs, pure white, with afew minute specks of dull red. Dr. 
Latham, on whose authority this is given, observes, “It seems to fre- 
quent the oak-trees in preference to all others. I have more than 
once seen a brood of these in a large oak, in the middle of a lawn, 
the whole little family of which, as soon as able, were in perpetual 
motion, and gave great pleasure to many who viewed them. The 
nest of one of these has also been made in a garden on a fir-tree; it 
was composed of moss, the opening on one side, in shape roundish ; 
it was lined with a downy substance, fixed with small filaments. It 
is said to siny very melodiously, very like the Common Wren, but 
weaker.”* In Pennsylvania, they continue with us from October to 
December, and sometimes to January. 
The Golden-crested Wren is four inches long, and six inches and 
a half in extent; back, a fine yellow olive; hind head and sides of the 
neck, inclining to ash; a line of white passes round the frontlet, ex- 
tending over and beyond the eye on each side; above this, another 
line or strip of deep black passes in the same manner, extendin 
farther behind; between these two strips of black, lies a bed o! 
glossy golden yellow, which, being parted a little, exposes another of 
a bright flame color, extending over the whole upper part of the head ; 
when the little warbler flits among the branches, in pursuit of insects, 
he opens and shuts this golden ornament with great adroitness, which 
produces a striking and elegant effect; lores, marked with circular 
points of black; below the eye is a rounding spot of dull white; 
from the upper mandible to the bottom of the ear-feathers runs a line 
of black, accompanied by another of whffe, from the lower mandible; 
breast, light cream color; sides under the wings, and vent, the same; 
wings, dusky, edged exteriorly with yellow olive; greater wing- 
coverts, tipped with white, immediately below which, a spot of black 
extends over several of the secondaries; tail, pretty long, forked, 
dusky, exterior vanes broadly edged with yellow olive; legs, brown ; 
feet and claws, yellow; bill, black, slender, straight, evidently of the 
Muscicapa form, the upper mandible being notched at the point, and 
furnished at the base with bristles, that reach half way to its point; 
but, what seems singular and peculiar to this little bird, the nostril on 
each side is covered by a single feather, that much resembles the 
antenne of some butterflies, and is half the length of the bill. 
Buffon has taken notice of the same in the European. Inside of the 
mouth, a reddish orange ; claws, extremely sharp, the hind one the 
longest. In the female, the tints and markings are nearly the same, 
* Synopsis, ii. 509. 
