By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 



177 



conceal itself : and over which it will hover on outstretched wing, 

 while it utters its short hurried note. It is a hardy bird, and re- 

 mains here throughout the year: its body is very small, scarcely 

 exceeding that of the common wren, but its great length of tail 

 gives it the appearance of superior bulk : the general colour of its 

 plumage is dark brown above, and chesnut brown beneath. Mr. 

 Withers informs me that some years since, several of these birds 

 were shot annually by Mr. Edwards at Amesbury : they were de- 

 coyed from the midst of the bush wherein they concealed themselves 

 by a certain noise made by Mr. Edwards, when they rose to the 

 top spray and were easily killed. Mr. Marsh was also informed by 

 the man who procured the specimen in his collection, that by imi- 

 tating their note he could bring these birds to the top of the furze, 

 and that he had so killed three in one morning in the neighbour- 

 hood of Chippenham. 



"Golden Crested Regulus." (Regulus cristatus.) Well known to 

 every one is this charming little favourite, the smallest and most 

 fairy like of all our British birds; three inches and a half only in 

 length, and 75 grains in weight, yet it braves the cold of winter, 

 and remains with us throughout the year. It prefers fir planta- 

 tions, but may be seen in hedgerows and gardens : it is incessant 

 in motion, hopping from branch to branch, now clinging to the 

 under boughs of the firs with back downwards, in search of its in- 

 sect food; wherein it closely resembles the titmice, with which it 

 often associates ; now hovering over a twig or flower, suspended in 

 the air, and fluttering its wings, and all the while singing melo- 

 diously; wherein it resembles the little warblers last described, and 

 so forming a link between the two families. Its colours are brown- 

 ish green and greenish yellow, while its head is ornamented with 

 a stripe of long silky feathers, yellow tipped with orange, forming 

 a golden crown. It abounds in this county, as I know by personal 

 observation, and it sometimes breeds in my garden. 



PARIDiE {The Titmice). 



Exceedingly interesting are all the members of this pert active 

 family, ever restless, creeping and running and flitting from bough 



