451 



Subfamily PHYLLOSCOPIN^. 



Genus REGULUS. 



Motacilla apud Linnseus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 338 (1766). 

 Sylvia apud Scopoli, Ann. I. Hist. Nat. p. 161 (1769). 

 Regulus, Koch, Baier. Zool. p. 199 (1816). 



Though tolerably closely allied to the Willow- Warblers in general appearance as well as in 

 habits, the Goldencrests are in many respects not unlike the Tits, near which they have been 

 placed by some authors. Like these birds they moult but once in the year, and they are only 

 partial migrants; but they differ widely in their mode of nidification. They have, however, a 

 slender bill like that of Plujlloscopus, and very different from the stout bill of Pants. Unlike both 

 Phylloscopus and Parus, both of which have the tarsus scutellated, Regulus has but one long 

 anterior plate with three inferior scutellse. In all the species found in the Palsearctic Region 

 the centre of the crown in both sexes is yellow or orange-red. The Goldencrests are widely 

 distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America, but do not range into the Ethiopian 

 Region, as they are more especially inhabitants of the colder and temperate regions. They are 

 essentially woodland birds, usually frequenting the trees, searching amongst their branches for 

 their insect food. Their flight is rather weak ; but they are partial migrants, and frequently 

 traverse considerable distances. They are tolerably good songsters ; and their song is often 

 heard very early in the spring. They build tolerably large, deep, cup-shaped nests, which are 

 suspended under the branch of a conifer tree, and deposit numerous small pinky white eggs 

 slightly dotted with dull orange or pale red. Three species inhabit the Western Palsearctic 

 Region ; and two very closely allied species {Regulus Mmalayensis and Regulus japordcus) are 

 found in the Eastern Palsearctic Region. One closely allied species [Regulus satrapa) inhabits 

 the Nearctic Region, where also another species, the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, is found, which 

 differs generically from true Reguhts in lacking the peculiar feather which covers the nostril 

 in that group, and has consequently been separated by Cabanis (J. f. O. 1853, p. 83) under the 

 name of Corthylio calendula. This species has been included in the British list, but, so far as I 

 can judge, without any valid reason. 



Regulus cristatus, the type of the genus Regulus, has the bill slender, straight, much like 

 that of the smaller Phylloscopi ; but the nostrils, which are linear-oblong, are covered with a 

 single delicate oblong feather ; legs rather long, the tarsus longer than the middle toe, covered 

 with a long slender plate and three scutellse ; the outer and middle toes joined at the base ; 

 claws long, curved, laterally grooved; plumage soft, blended; wings broad, rounded, having 

 eighteen quills, the first not quite half as long as the second, the fourth longest, the fifth nearly 

 as long ; tail moderately long, slightly emarginate. 



l 5 



