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AMERICAN GOLDEN-CRESTED KINGLET. 



Regulus satrapa, Lichtenstein* 

 PLATE CXXXIL— Male and Female. 



This active little bird breeds in Labrador, where I saw it feeding its young 

 in August, when the species appeared already moving southward; but 

 although it was common there and in Newfoundland, as was the Ruby- 

 crowned Kinglet, we did not succeed in our search for its nest. It enters 

 the United States late in September, and continues its journey beyond their 

 limits, as I have met with it on the borders of our most Southern Districts 

 during winter. Individuals remain in all the Southern and Western States 

 the whole of that season, and leave them again about the beginning of 

 March. 



They generally associate in groups, composed each of a whole family, and 

 feed in company with the Titmice, Nuthatches, and Brown Creepers, 

 perambulating the tops of trees and bushes, sometimes in the very depth of 

 the forests or the most dismal swamps, while at other times they approach 

 the plantations, and enter the gardens and yards. Their movements are 

 always extremely lively and playful. They follow minute insects on the 

 wing, seize them among the leaves of the pines, or search for the larvae in 

 the chinks of the branches. Like the Titmice they are seen hanging to the 

 extremities of twigs and bunches of leaves, sometimes fluttering in the air 

 in front of them, and are unceasingly occupied. They have no song at this 

 season, but merely emit now and then a low screep. 



On the 23d of January, while in company with my friend John Bachman, 

 I saw great numbers of them in the woods near Charleston, searching for 

 food high in the trees as well as low down, and so careless of us, that 

 although we would approach within a few feet of them, they were not in 

 the least disconcerted. Their feeble chirp was constantly repeated. We 

 killed a great number of them in hopes of finding among them some 

 individuals of the species known under the name of Regulus ignicajrillus, 

 but in this we did not succeed. At times they uttered a strong querulous 

 note, somewhat resembling that of the Black-headed Titmouse. The young- 

 had acquired their full plumage, but the females were more abundant than 

 the males. At this season the yellow spot on their head is less conspicuous 

 than towards spring, when they raise their crest feathers while courting. 



Vol. II. 29 



