RUBY-CROWNED WREN, 
181 
tallest trees, as well as the lowest hushes ; 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 secon- 
daries, just below their coverts ; the hind head is 
ornamented 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 some- 
what less. Notwithstanding my utmost endeavours, 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 disco- 
vered from their beginning before the leaves are out ; 
many others, no doubt, choose similar situations ; and, 
should they delay building until the woods are thickened 
with leaves, it is no easy matter to discover them. In 
fall, they are so extremely fat, as almost to dissolve 
between the fingers as you open them ; owing to the 
great abundance of their favourite insects at that time. 
