GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 
129 
very accurate description given of this bird, by the Count de 
Buffon, agrees in every respect with ours. Here, as in Europe, 
it is a bird of passage, making its first appearance in Pennsyl- 
vania early in April, among the blossoms of the maple, often 
accompanied by the Ruby-crowned Wren, which, except in the 
markings of the head, it very much resembles. It is very 
frequent among evergreens, such as the pine, spruce, cedar, 
juniper, &c. and in the fall is generally found in company 
with the two species of Titmouse, Brown Creeper, and small 
Spotted Woodpecker. It is an active, unsuspicious, and diligent 
little creature, climbing and hanging, occasionally, among 
the branches, and sometimes even on the body of the tree, in 
search of the larvae of insects attached to the leaves and stems, 
the total disappearance of the whole tribe, natives as well as strangers, 
throughout Scotland and the north of England. This happened towards the 
conclusion of the month of January, 1823, and a few days previous to the 
long continued snow-storm so severely felt through the northern counties of 
England, and along the eastern parts of Scotland. The range and point of 
this migration are unascertained, but it must probably have been a distant one, 
from the fact of not a single pair having returned to breed, or pass the 
succeeding summer, in the situations they had been known always to frequent. 
Nor was one of the species to be seen till the following October, or about the 
usual time, as I have above stated, for our receiving an annual accession of 
strangers to our own indigenous birds.” 
They are chiefly if not entirely insectivorous, and very nimble and agile in 
search after their prey. They build their nests with great art, — that of this 
country has it usually suspended near the extremity of a branch, and the 
outside beautifully covered with different mosses, generally similar to those 
growing upon the tree on which they build. In colours and the distribution 
of them, they closely agree, and all possess the beautiful golden crown, the 
well known and admired mark of their common name. Our own island 
possesses only one, and though strong hopes have lately been raised of 
finding the second European species R. ignicapillus, our endeavours have 
hitherto been unsuccessful. But I do not yet despair ; they are so closely 
allied that a very near inspection is necessary to determine the individuals. 
Mr Audubon has described and figured a bird under the name of R. Cuvierii, 
which may prove an addition to this genus. Only a single specimen was 
procured in Pennsylvania, and the species will rest on Mr Audubon’s plate 
alone, until some others are obtained. The centre of the crest is described 
and represented of a rich vermilion Ed. 
VOL. I. 
I 
