414 
INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 
This species is 5 inches long, and 7 in alar stretch. Above dull 
greenish-olive ; rump and tail-coverts bright yellow-olive. Feathers 
of the head rather thick and orange at base ; this color only visible 
when the feathers are elevated. Inferior tail-coverts pure yellow. 
Primaries dark brown oliye on the edges ; tail-feathers similar to 
the quills, edged with white on the inner vanes. Bill dark horn-color. 
Legs dusky. Iris dark brown. — Female nearly similar. 
REGULUS. (Crested Wrens.) 
In these birds the bill is short, straight, very slender, subulate, 
compressed from the base, and narrowed in the middle, furnished 
with bristles at the base, and with the edges somewhat bent in ; the 
upper mandible is slenderly notched, and a little curved at the tip. 
Nostrils basal, oval,. half closed by a membrane, and additionally 
covered also with 2 small projecting, rigid, and decompound feathers. 
Tongue bristly at the tip. The feet slender; tarsus longer than 
the middle toe ; lateral toes nearly equal with each other ; the inner 
one free ; the hind toe stoutest, and furnished with a larger and thick- 
er nail. — Wings short, rather acute, with the spurious feather very 
short ; the 3d and 4th primaries longest ; the 1st and 7th equal. 
Tail notched. 
The female differs but little from the male ; but the young are 
considerably duller in color. They moult annually. The plumage 
long and somewhat bristly ; the head is ornamented with a brilliant 
spot on the crown. These are among the smallest of birds in tem- 
perate climates, and withstand the rigor of winter, but migrate, as it 
approaches, to more temperate countries. In summer they penetrate 
into the arctic regions, and are possessed of great activity, being un- 
weariedly diligent in pursuit of small flying insects, and in collecting 
their eggs and larvae. Like the Titmouse, they are seen vaulting on 
the extreme twigs of trees, and prying in all directions for their 
lurking prey. The nest is constructed with great art, and affixed 
to depending branches. They have one or two broods in the sea- 
son ; and the eggs are sometimes as many as 12. — They inhabit 
the north of both continents, migrating indifferently probably 
through either, and are intermediately and closely allied both to 
Sylvia and Par us. 
