182 
REGULUS CRISTATUS. 
141 . REGULUS CRISTATUS , RAY SYLVIA REGULUS , WILSON. 
GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 
WILSON, PLATE VIII. FIG. II. — MALE EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
This diminutive species is a frequent associate of the 
brown creeper, and seems to he almost a citizen of 
the world at large, having* been found not only in North 
and South America, the West Indies, and Europe, hut 
even in Africa and India. The specimen from Europe, 
in Mr Peale’s collection, appears to be in nothing 
specifically different from the American ; and the 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 appear- 
ance in Pennsylvania 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 ever- 
greens, 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, 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. 
