170 
GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 
on a fir tree ; it was composed of moss, the opening on one side, in shape 
roundish ; it was lined with a downy substance, fixed with small fila- 
ments. It is said to sing very melodiously, very like the Common Wren, 
but weaker."* In Pennsylvania they continue with us from October to 
December, and sometimes to January. 
The Golden-crested Wren is four inches long, and six inches and a 
half in extent ; back a fine yellow olive ; hind head and sides of the neck 
inclining to ash ; a line of white passes round the frontlet, extending 
over and beyond the eye on each side ; above this another line or strip 
of deep black passes in the same manner, extending farther behind ; 
between these two strips of black lies a bed of glossy golden yellow, 
which being parted a little, exposes another of a bright flame color, 
extending over the whole upper part of the head ; when the little war- 
bler flits among the branches in pursuit of insects, he opens and shuts 
this golden ornament with great adroitness, which produces a striking 
and elegant effect ; lores marked with circular points of black ; below 
the eye is a rounding spot of dull white : from the upper mandible to 
the bottom of the ear feathers runs a line of black, accompanied by 
another of white from the lower mandible ; breast light cream color ; 
sides under the wings and vent the same ; wings dusky, edged exteriorly 
with yellow olive; greater wing coverts tipped with white, immediately 
below which a spot of black extends over several of the secondaries ; tail 
pretty long, forked, dusky, exterior vanes broadly edged with yellow 
olive ; legs brown, feet and claws yellow ; bill black, slender, straight, 
evidently of the Muscicapa form, the upper mandible being notched at 
the point, and furnished at the base with bristles, that reach half way 
to its point ; but what seems singular and peculiar to this little bird, 
the nostril on each side is covered by a single feather, that much re- 
sembles the antennos of some butterflies, and is half the length of the 
bill. Buffon has taken notice of the same in the European. Inside 
of the mouth a reddish orange ; claws extremely sharp, the hind one 
the longest. In the female the tints and markings are nearly the same, 
only the crown or crest is pale yellow. These birds are numerous in 
Pennsylvania in the month of October, frequenting bushes that over- 
hang streams of water, alders, briars, and particularly apple trees, 
where they are eminently useful in destroying great numbers of insects, 
and are at that season extremely fat. 
* Synopsis n., 509. 
