418 
INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 
a Fiery Crest (R. ignicapillus ) , and a third indigenous to 
Asia, are very nearly related to the present ; the first 
having been generally confounded with it, or considered 
as a variety of the same species. Learned ornithologists 
have referred our bird without hesitation to the Fiery- 
crested Wren, with which, however, it only agrees in 
the brilliance of the crown ; and, instead of being less, 
is indeed larger than the true Golden-crested species. 
Like the former, they appear associated only in pairs, 
and are seen on their southern route, in this part of Mas- 
sachusetts, a few days in October, and about the middle 
of the month, or a little earlier or later according to the 
setting in of the season, as they appear to fly before the 
desolating storms of the northern regions whither they re- 
tire about May to breed. Some of these birds remain in 
Pennsylvania until December or January, proceeding 
probably but little farther south during the winter. They 
are not known to reside in any part of New England, 
retiring probably to the same remote and desolate limits 
of the farthest north with the preceding species, of which 
they have most of the habits. They are actively engaged 
during their transient visits to the South in gleaning up 
insects and their lurking larvse, for which they perambu- 
late the branches of trees of various kinds, frequenting 
gardens and orchards, and skipping and vaulting from 
the twigs, sometimes head downwards like the Chica- 
dee, with whom they often keep company, making only 
now and then a feeble chirp. They appear at this time 
to search chiefly after spiders and dormant concealed 
coleopterous or shelly insects ; they are also said to feed 
on small berries, and some kinds of seeds, which they 
break open by pecking with the bill in the manner of 
the Titmouse. They likewise frequent the sheltered ce- 
dar and pine woods, in which they probably take up their 
