The Gold-Crested Wren. 309 



feet are pale brown. The bird weighs only Idr. 16gr. when 

 in condition. 



Habits and BREEDiNa. — The Gold-Crested Wren is indigenous 

 to Great Britain, though a partial migration of these birds 

 takes place, about October, to the more southerly counties of 

 England. At this time they become to some extent gre- 

 garious ; but the number of birds to a flock is comparatively 

 small. These birds are tolerably plentiful, throughout the entire 

 year, in most of the warmer and sheltered counties of England. 

 They also inhabit France, Austria, Italy, Norway, Sweden, 

 Russia, the Cape of Good Hope, and some parts of Northern 

 America. They appear able to endure the cold tolerably well. 

 They chiefly inhabit woods, especially those in which oak, fir, 

 and pine trees grow, or where there is a dense undergrowth ; 

 in such places they seem to revel. They hop about hither and 

 thither, and climb and scramble along branches and twigs with 

 the greatest zest and activity, twittering whilst hunting indus- 

 triously among the leaves and branches for food, and moving 

 forward in the most alert and dexterous fashion, so as almost 

 to elude the gaze of those who are trying to follow their 

 movements, by their fairy-like actions. 



The birds commence to breed as early as March, unless 

 the weather at that time be very inclement. They usually 

 select an oak, fir, pine, or yew tree, in which to erect their nests. 

 The nest is round, and is skilfully woven to the end of a 

 branch ; the entrance is at the side, the top being domed 

 over. It is erected at various distances from the ground, 

 sometimes being placed high, and at other times not more 

 than a few feet from the ground. It is composed of moss, 

 tufts of thistle-down, feathers, &c., and is very pliable 

 to the touch. The hen lays from seven to ten very small 

 eggs, in colour pinkish white, thickly spotted with brownish 

 red ; but she seldom has more than six or eight young ones. 

 If the parent birds be disturbed or interfered with at the 

 time of building their nest, they will forsake the partially- 

 erected structure, and retire to some other locality. They 

 are very attentive to their offspring, and labour most as- 

 siduously to supply their wants, a task which, as they have 

 such extensive families, is no mean one to accomplish. The 

 hen incubates twelve days. The young birds resemble their 

 parents in general appearance, but are much paler in the 



