130 
GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 
and various kinds of small flies, which it frequently seizes on 
wing. As it retires still farther north to breed, it is seldom 
seen in Pennsylvania from May to October ; but is then 
numerous in orchards, feeding among the leaves of the apple 
trees, which, at that season, are infested with vast numbers of 
small black-winged insects. Its chirp is feeble, not much 
louder than that of a mouse ; though, where it breeds, the 
male is said to have a variety of sprightly notes. It builds its 
nest frequently on the branches of an evergreen, covers it 
entirely round, leaving a small hole on one side for entrance, 
forming it outwardly of moss and lichens, and lining it warmly 
with down. The female lays six or eight eggs, pure white, 
with a few minute specks of dull red. Dr Latham, on whose 
authority this is given, observes, “ It seems to frequent the oak | 
trees in preference to all others. I have more than once seen 
a brood of these in a large oak, in the middle of a lawn, the 
whole little family of which, as soon as able, were in perpetual j 
motion, and gave great pleasure to many who viewed them. 
The nest of one of these has also been made in a garden 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 filaments. 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 colour, 
extending over the whole upper part of the head ; when the 
little warbler flits among the branches, in pursuit of insects, 
* Synopsis, ii. 509. 
