84 
RUBY-CROWNED WREN. 
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, 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 
extent; 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 ; secondaries, 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 orna- 
mented 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 colours being less lively, and 
the bird somewhat less. Notwithstanding my utmost endea- 
vours, I have never been able to discover their nest ; though, 
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 
