456 



and Buckley refer to it (Ibis, 1870, p. 198) as not uncommon in Turkey; and it is tolerably 

 common in Southern Germany, where I have often observed it, and where it appears to be 

 resident. Professor von Nordmann speaks of it as being abundant in the woods at the base 

 of the mountains in the Crimea and the Caucasus, and visiting the gardens in the winter. 

 Mr. Swinhoe writes (Ibis, 186-4, p. 413) that a specimen came on board the steamer between 

 Malta and Alexandria about 100 miles off the African coast ; but it has not been recorded from 

 North-eastern Africa, though it occurs in Algeria. Dr. C. Bolle mentions a Canarian species 

 of Regulus, which was doubtless the present species, as Mr. F. DuCane Godman found it in the 

 Canaries, at Taganana, and in the highlands of Teneriffe, in the laurel-forests, and also amongst 

 the tree heath. He also says that it is " found in the eastern, central, and western groups of 

 the Azores, and frequents the junipers (Juniperus oxycednis) and tree heaths [Erica azorica) 

 in the mountains, and is but seldom in the gardens or lower country." He says that his 

 specimens have the beak and legs stouter and stronger, and the tail longer than European 

 examples. 



To the eastward it extends to Japan. Specimens have been sent from Trebizond ; and 

 Severtzoff states that it is resident throughout Turkestan, except in the south-western part, 

 where it is wanting. In the winter it is found at an altitude of from 7000 to 8000 feet in the 

 Karatau and Thian-Sban Mountains, and in the breeding-season is found as high as 10,000 feet 

 above the sea-level. It also inhabits the North-western Himalayas, where, according to Dr. 

 Jerdon, it is not common. Herr von Pelzeln records it from Kotegurh, and says that he has 

 convinced himself that the European and Asiatic species are specifically identical, in which I 

 fully agree with him. Von Schrenck met with it in Eastern Siberia; but Middendorff did not 

 observe it. In the Amoor district it is, Von Schrenck says, a common bird, and he often saw 

 and shot it near the Nikolaiefsk post in the autumn of 1854, and it remained there into 

 November, but was not observed later. He says that specimens obtained there agree precisely 

 with European examples. Pallas obtained a specimen from the Tschulym river, in Western 

 Siberia. Pere David obtained it at Moupin ; Temminck and Schlegel record it from Japan, and 

 Mr. Swinhoe from China. I may add that I have compared Chinese and Japanese examples 

 with others obtained in Europe, and can detect no difference, except that the former are, if any 

 thing, rather cleaner and a trifle brighter in colour. 



In its habits the Golden-crested Wren bears not a little resemblance to the Titmice, and 

 especially to the Coal Titmouse (Parus ater), with which species, as well as Creepers and other 

 Titmice, it frequently roams about the country during the winter season. Both this species and 

 the Fire-crested Wren are scarcely true migrants, as they are found during the winter in the 

 same countries in which they have bred, except in high northern latitudes, but usually wander 

 in search of food to some distance from the localities where they have bred. That numbers do 

 migrate is certain, as during the seasons of passage large flocks have repeatedly been seen on the 

 coast, often in an extremely fatigued condition ; indeed it appears strange that so feeble and 

 small a bird should be able to cross the sea as they certainly do. Many instances of its migra- 

 tion are given by various authors; and I may quote the following from Mr. Stevenson's ' Birds of 

 Norfolk' (i. p. 136): — "Perhaps the most striking instance, however, of the migration of the 

 Goldcrest in large numbers to our eastern coast was witnessed by Captain Longe, of Great 



