GOLD CRESTED WREN. 



205 



means the faces are never left on the nest, but are instantly carried 

 away by the parent bird. 



This minnte species braves the severest winters of our climate, being 

 equally found in all parts during- that rigorous season, and is by no 

 means so scarce as it is supposed to be, but, from its diminutive size, 

 it is seldom noticed. It would in all probability be much more plen- 

 tiful, but from some cause which we have not been able to discover, 

 the female is frequently destroyed at the time of its incubation, and 

 the nest with the eggs left to decay. 



Bechstein informs us that these beautiful birds are spread over the 

 whole of Europe and Asia, its favorite haunts being the extensive 

 pine and fir forests of the north of Europe, from whence they migrate 

 towards the south on the approach of winter. In the month of 

 October, they are observed in Germany, passing towards the south, and 

 returning again in the month of March towards the north. In that 

 country, however, flocks of them reside during the whole year, uniting 

 together as the year advances, and searching out those spots where 

 their food, which consists of small insects, is most abundant. 



He adds, that they are easily taken by cautiously approaching 

 the branch on which they generally perch themselves, and touching 

 them softly with a lime twig, attached to a stick of sufficient length to 

 reach them, the gentle creatures become unresisting prisoners. When 

 taken they are easily tamed, and will, in a very short time, take their 

 food from the hand ; but such is their extreme delicacy, that many die 

 before one can be reared : once accustomed to confinement, they have 

 been known to live a considerable time. 



A pair of these birds, in the collection of Mr. Luscome, of Kings- 

 bridge, were of a cream colour, with the usual yellow crown, by which 

 the sexes are distinguished ; the song, which is short, weak, and with 

 little variety, is repeated at short intervals throughout the day in spring, 

 and until it has young. 



*"Onthe 24th and 25th of October, 1822," says Selby, "after a 

 very severe gale, with thick fog from the north-east, (but veering, 

 towards its conclusion, to the east and south of east,) thousands of these 

 birds were seen to arrive upon the sea-shore and sand-banks of the 

 Northumbrian coast ; many of them so fatigued by the length of their 

 flight, or perhaps by the unfavourable shift of wind, as to be unable to 

 rise again from the ground, and great numbers were in consequence 

 caught or destroyed. This flight must have been immense in quantity, 

 as its extent was traced through the whole length of the coasts of 

 Northumberland and Durham. There appears little doubt of this 



