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REGULUS MADERENSIS. 



(MADEIRAN GOLDCREST.) 



Regulus 1 Vern. Hare. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 2, vol. xii. p. 58 (1853). 



Regulus maderensis, Vern. Hare. P. Z. S. 1854, p. 153. 



Figura nulla. 



S ad. Regulo ignicapillo persimilis, sed pileo flavicantiore, stria superciliari et stria suboculari brevioribus : 

 capitis lateribus, nucha et dorso superiore caerulescenti-cinereis : tarso longiore et pedibus robustioribus 

 quam in R. ignicapillo et cristato. 



2 ad. vix a mare distinguenda : corpore supra vix sordidiore et pileo paullo pallidiore. 



Adult Male (Madeira, 23rd June) . Resembles Regulus ignicapillus, except that it has the crown less richly 

 coloured ; the white streak aboTe the eye and that below the eye passing backwards for much shorter 

 distance than in that species, the latter not being extended beyond the eye ; in front of the eye there is 

 a black patch, but none behind the eye ; sides of the head, neck, nape, and entire fore part of the back 

 rich bluish or slaty ash-coloured ; tarsus much longer and feet much larger than in either of the other 

 European species. Total length about 3^ inches, culmen 0"5, wing 2'2, tail 1'8, tarsus 08, middle 

 toe with claw 05, hind toe with claw - 45. 



Adult Female (Madeira, 23rd June). Differs very slightly from the male in having the crest a trifle paler 

 in colour, and the plumage in general slightly duller in tinge. 



This beautiful Goldcrest, differing chiefly from the common European Fire-crested Wren by its 

 long tarsus and blue-grey neck, is only known to inhabit Madeira. Mr. E. Vernon Harcourt, in 

 describing it as new says (I. c.) that " it lives in the laurel-forest and in the urze (or tree heaths) 

 in the northern and more unfrequented parts of the island of Madeira." He frequently saw it 

 on the wing, but could never get near enough to hear its voice. The Portuguese, he says, give 

 it the name of "Abibe." 



Mr. F. DuCane Godman (Ibis, 1872, p. 173) says that it is "not uncommon in the higher 

 parts of Madeira, where it frequents chiefly the tree heath (Erica arborea) and the arbutus 

 (Clethra arborea), and, like our Goldcrest, feeds upon insects it picks from the leaves. It is 

 not easy to procure specimens, as the brush-wood is so thick, and when shot at from a close 

 distance a bird is blown to pieces and spoiled for preserving. I also found it in a fir-wood a 

 little above St. Anna, on the north side of the island. This was the only place I met with it 

 low down." 



Beyond the above few and meagre particulars I can find nothing recorded respecting the 

 present species. It breeds in Madeira ; but its nest and eggs do not appear to have been obtained 

 by any naturalist. 



This being the last species of Golden-crested Wren of which I shall have to treat, it may 



