GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 



129 



the very accurate description given of this bird by the Count 

 de Buffon agrees in every respect with ours. Here, as in 

 Europe, it is a bird of passage, making its first appearance 

 in Pennsylvania early in April, among the blossoms of the 

 maple, often accompanied by the ruby-crowned wren, which, 

 except in the markings of the head, it very much resembles. 

 It is very frequent among evergreens, such as the pine, spruce, 



gold-crested regulus, I had long felt convinced, from the great and 

 sudden increase of the species during the autumnal and hyemal months, 

 that our indigenous birds must be augmented by a body of strangers 

 making these shores their winter's resort. 



" A more extraordinary circumstance in the economy of this bird took 

 place during the same winter (Memoirs of Wernerian Society, vol. v. 

 p. 397), viz., the total disappearance of the whole tribe, natives as well 

 as strangers, throughout Scotland and the north of England. This hap- 

 pened towards the conclusion of the month of January 1823, and a few 

 days previous to the long-continued snowstorm so severely felt through 

 the northern counties of England, and along the eastern parts of Scot- 

 land. The range and point of this migration are unascertained, but it 

 must probably have been a distant one, from the fact of not a single pair 

 having returned to breed, or pass the succeeding summer, in the situa- 

 tions they had been known always to frequent. Nor was one of the 

 species to be seen till the following October, or about the usual time, 

 as I have above stated, for our receiving an annual accession of strangers 

 to our own indigenous birds." 



They are chiefly if not entirely insectivorous, and very nimble and 

 agile in search after their prey. They build their nests with great art ; 

 that of this country has it usually suspended near the extremity of a 

 branch, and the outside beautifully covered with different mosses, gene- 

 rally similar to those growing upon the tree on which they build. In 

 colours and the distribution of them, they closely agree, and all possess 

 the beautiful golden crow^n, the well-known and admired mark of their 

 common name. Our own island possesses only one, and though strong 

 hopes have lately been raised of finding the second European species, 

 R. ignicapillus, our endeavours have hitherto been unsuccessful. But I 

 do not yet despair ; they are so closely allied that a very near inspection 

 is necessary to determine the individuals. 



Mr Audubon has described and figured a bird under the name of R. 

 Cuvierii, which may prove an addition to this genus. Only a single 

 specimen was procured in Pennsylvania, and the species will rest on 

 Mr Audubon's plate alone, until some others are obtained. The centre 

 of the crest is described and represented of a rich vermilion. — Ed. 

 VOL. I. I 



