Tlie Lively Gambols of this Bird. 71 



green, as are also the tail feathers. Thus attired by nature, 

 that is, by the great Creator who cares for all His creatures, 

 this little bird, creeping and fluttering about the branches and 

 bole of the leafy summer tree, can scarcely be distinguished 

 from the tree itself: hence it is that the bird is so unfamiliar to 

 most people. The he-bird, however, has a little distinguishing 

 glory of his own — a crest of golden-coloured feathers, bordered 

 on each side- with black, like a sort of eye-brow to his bright 

 hazel eyes. This crest, which gives him his distinguished 

 name, can be erected at pleasure, when he is full of life and 

 enjoyment, or when he chooses to lord it over birds ten times 

 as big as himself 



It is worth anybody's while, who has a love for the innocent 

 denizens of nature, and no desire to do them harm, to go into 

 a wood on a summer's day on purpose to watch the doings of 

 this lively little bird amongst the tree branches. Fir-woods 

 are the best for this purpose, as this bird has an especial liking 

 for these trees, and ten to one, if you will only be patient and 

 quite still, you may soon see him at work busily looking after 

 his dinner, running along the branches, up one and down 

 another, then like a little arrow off to the next tree, scudding 

 along its branches, then back again, up and down, round and 

 round the bole, going like a little fire, so rapid are his move- 

 ments ; now running up aloft, now hanging head downward, 

 now off again in another direction. What a wonderful activity 

 there is in that little body ! He must devour hundreds of in- 

 sects, as well as their eggs, which he thus seeks for under the 

 scaly roughnesses of the bark, and finding, devours. 



Pretty as he is, his nest, of which Mr. Harrison Weir has 



