84 RUBY-CROWNED WREN 



at this season I have stood under the tree, motionless, to observe 

 them, while they gleaned among the low branches, sometimes 

 within a foot or two of my head. They are extremely adroit in 

 catching their prey; have only at times a feeble chirp; visit the 

 tops of the tallest trees as well as the lowest bushes ; and continue 

 generally for a considerable time among the branches of the same 

 tree, darting about from place to place ; appearing, when on the 

 top of a high maple, no bigger than humble-bees. 



The Ruby-crowned Wren is four inches long, and six in ex- 

 tent; the upper parts of the head, neck and back are of a fine 

 greenish olive, with a considerable tinge of yellow ; wings and tail 

 dusky purplish brown, exteriorly edged with yellow olive; secon- 

 daries and first row of wing-coverts edged and tipt with white, with 

 a spot of deep purplish brown across the secondaries, just below 

 their coverts ; the hind head is ornamented with an oblong lateral 

 spot of vermilion, usually almost hid by the other plumage ; round 

 the eye a ring of yellowish white; whole under parts of the same 

 tint; legs dark brown; feet and claws yellow; bill slender, straight, 

 not notched, furnished with a few black hairs at the base; inside 

 of the mouth orange. The female differs very little in its plumage 

 from the male, the colors being less lively, and the bird somewhat 

 less. Notwithstanding my utmost endeavours, I have never been 

 able to discover their nest; tho from the circumstance of having 

 found them sometimes here in summer, I am persuaded that they 

 occasionally breed in Pennsylvania; but I know several birds, no 

 larger than this, that usually build on the extremities of the tallest 

 trees in the woods ; which I have discovered from their beginning 

 before the leaves are out; many others, no doubt, choose similar 

 situations ; and should they delay building until the woods are thick- 

 ened with leaves it is no easy matter to discover them. In Fall they 

 are so extremely fat as almost to dissolve between the fingers as 

 you open them ; owing to the great abundance of their favorite in- 

 sects at that time. 



