KINGLETS 349 



in the South, but has "a high, almost piercing call of four or 

 five notes which it utters very frequently, and which is char- 

 acteristic, but difficult to describe."t 



Food habits. — ^Barrows wi-ites of the food of this kinglet 

 as follows : 



The food of this bird consists almost entirely of insects and 

 their eggs, and it cannot be doubted that it is decidedly bene- 

 ficial to the farmer and fruit grower. It is often seen eating 

 plant lice and is a common bird in the orchards during migra- 

 tion, on such occasions spending much time about the opening 

 buds and among the terminal twigs, where it collects large 

 quantities of harmful insects.** 



RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET: Corthylio calendvla 

 calendula (Linnaeus).* 



State records. — ^The ruby-crowned kinglet is a fairly com- 

 mon migrant and winter resident. Avery noted its arrival 

 from the north at Greensboro, October 26, 1889, and October 

 19, 1890, and Golsan took specimens at Autaugaville, October 

 16 and 21, 1915. Dean saw one bird at Anniston, October 8, 

 one October 15, and one December 25, 1916. Brown found the 

 bird numerous at Coosada from January to April, and Saun- 

 ders observed it commonly at Woodbine, March 9 to 21, 1908. 

 I saw two at Orange Beach, January 31; ten near Mobile, 

 February 6, and one on Petit Bois Island, February 12, 1912. 

 It was also observed throughout March and April, at Carlton, 

 Uniontown, Squaw Shoals, Autaugaville, Tuscaloosa, Sand 

 Mountain, Scottsboro, Leighton, and Auburn (last, April 26) . 



General habits. — The ruby-crown has about the same habits 

 as the golden-crown but is not often found in flocks. It is a 

 rather lower-ranging bird, most often found rather near the 

 ground in thickets in deciduous woodland. Although very 

 quiet and inconspicuous during the winter season, this little 

 bird in spring often renders snatches of its song, which, 

 although not to be compared with the full song as given on 

 the breeding grounds, is nevertheless a remarkably loud and 



tBarrows, W. B., Michiean Bird Life, p. 702, 1912. 

 ••Op cit., p. 703. 



•Besnliis calendala ralendala of the A. O. U. Check-list ; for change of name see The 

 Auk, ToL 31, p. 205, 1917. 



