THE YOUNG 



NATURALIST. 



£53 



nests are more compact, and do not 

 resemble that of the White Throat. It is 

 placed in the thick part of a furze bush. 



Eggs. — In the same article referred to 

 above, Col. Montagu describes the eggs of 

 the Dartford Warbler as being similar to 

 those of the common White Throat, but 

 rather less, possessing a light tinge of green, 

 and speckled all over with olivaceous-brown 

 and cinereous, on a greenish white ground^ 

 the markings often becoming more dense, 

 and forming a zone at the large end. Four 

 is the usual number laid, but sometimes 

 three, and at other times five may be found 

 in one nest. 



Varieties.— Mr. Bond says " the eggs 

 vary in the colour of the spotting. In some 

 it is of an olive green, and in others reddish 

 brown, and I have seen a few nearly white." 



Genus VII. Regulus, Ray. 



This genus differs from the last in their 

 very diminutive size ; in having the fea- 

 thers of the crown elongated, brightly 

 coloured on the males, and capable of being 

 erected in the form of a crest ; in the bill 

 gradually tapering from the base to the tip ; 

 and the nostrils being covered with only one 

 feather. Only one species is native of this 

 country and is the smallest bird we possess. 

 One or two other species have been known 

 to occur as accidental visitors. 



49. GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 



Regulus cristafus, Koch. 



Cristatus.— A crest. 



Size.-— Length, 3^in. ; expanse, 6lin. 



Plumage.— Bill nearly black; eyes 

 dark brown ; crown of head very bright 

 orange yellow in the centre, the feathers 

 silky, elongated, and capable of being erec- 

 ted ; on each side of this is a blackish stripe, 

 and between this and the eye is a paler 

 stripe; back dull yellowish olive; tail 



brown, rather forked at the end, and each 

 feather edged with yellowish green ; primary 

 and secondary wing feathers brown, edged 

 with yellowish green ; great and lesser wing 

 coverts brown, tipped with white, forming 

 two white bars across the wing ; under 

 parts drab-white ; legs blackish horn colour. 



The Female resembles the male, but is 

 generally rather smaller and has the crest 

 lemon-coloured. 



The Young in their nest plumage are 

 without the yellow crest, and the whole 

 plumage is duller in colour than in the 

 adults. 



Varieties are rare. A white one is in 

 the British Museum which was obtained by 

 Montagu. The same author also mentions 

 a pair of a cream colour with yellow crown. 

 Temminch says that sometimes the crown 

 of the head is azure blue, and Morris men- 

 tions one with the tips of the wings and tail 

 white. 



Note. — The ordinary note is weak and 

 plaintive, at times resembling that of the 

 Marsh Tit. 



Flight.— The flight is generally very 

 short, being from one tree to another, very 

 seldom of long duration, and rather jerking. 



Migration.— This bird is a resident in 

 this country, or, at least, most of the indi- 

 viduals remain throughout the year; but 

 some leave this country in early spring for 

 the forests of northern Europe, where they 

 remain to breed, and return again in the 

 autumn : so that the bird, though found all 

 the year round, is more numerous in the 

 winter months. 



Food. — Their food consists of small 

 insects of all kinds. In the search of food 

 they form into companies, sometimes of 

 considerable extent. These bands are often 

 joined by Long-tailed and other Tits, or 

 sometimes by Creepers. The whole party 

 is generally engaged upon the same tree, 

 running over its branches and peering into 



