Species II. SYLVIA CALENDULA. 
RUBY-CROWNED WREN. 
[Plate V. Fig. 3.] 
Le Roitelet Rubis, Buff, v., 373.— Edw. 254.— Lath. Syn. n., 511.— Aret. Zool. 
3*20. — Regulus cristatus alter vert ice rubini coloris, Bartram, p. 292.* 
This little bird visits us early in the spring from the south, and is 
generally first found among the maple blossoms, about the beginning of 
April. These failing, it has recourse to those of the peach, apple and 
other fruit trees, partly for the tops of the sweet and slender stamina 
of the flowers, and partly for the winged insects that hover among them. 
In the middle of summer I have rarely met with these birds in Penn- 
sylvania ; and as they penetrate as far north as the country round Hud- 
son's Bay, and also breed there, it accounts for their late arrival here 
in fall. They then associate with the different species of Titmouse, and 
the Golden-crested Wren ; and are particularly numerous in the month 
of October and beginning of November in orchards, among the decay- 
ing leaves of the apple trees, that at that season are infested with great 
numbers of small, black, winged insects, among which they make great 
havoc. I have often regretted the painful necessity one is under of 
taking away the lives of such inoffensive useful little creatures, merely 
to obtain a more perfect knowledge of the species ; for they appear so 
busy, so active and unsuspecting, as to continue searching about the 
same twig, even after their companions have been shot down beside them. 
They are more remarkably so in autumn; which may be owing to the 
great number of young and inexperienced birds which are then among 
them ; and frequently at this season I have stood under the tree, mo- 
tionless, 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 following synonymes may be added: — Motacilla calendula, Linn. i..p. 337. 
— Gmel. Syst. [., p. 994. — Sylvia calendula, Lath. Lid. Orn. n., p. 549. — Regulus 
rubineus, Vieillot, Ois. de V Am. Sept. pi. 104, male ; 105, young, given as female. 
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