254 
ENTOMOLOGY. 
tlie crown of the head which distinguishes this pretty bird. It delights 
most in evergreen shrubs and trees, particularly the spruce fir and 
cedar, though it is often found where there are but few of them, and 
even where there are plenty it never fails to make daily excursions 
along the hedges in the vicinity, Hitting about through the thickest 
branches, and uttering its small tinkling chirp of tee, tee , teechy, at 
every change of position. It is not in the least afraid of being ap¬ 
proached, most probably owing to its being very near-sighted, a pecu¬ 
liarity of vision no doubt designed by Providence for enabling it the 
more readily to distinguish the minute insects oil which it exclusively 
feeds. 
“ No farmer would be apt to accuse the gold-crested wren of 
injuring his crops; but when a gardener, unacquainted with their 
habits and food, sees them flitting about among his espaliers, his wall- 
trees, or his rose-bushes, he will be apt to think they are busy eating 
the blossom-buds, as some other birds are well known to do; while, 
on the contrary, they are doing him essential service, by picking up 
every straggling plant-louse (Aphis) and bud-weevil which they can 
meet with. 
“ The species which come nearest to the gold-crest in appearance 
and habits, are the wood-WTen ( Silvia sibilcitrix), and the willow T -wren 
or hay-bird ( Sylvia Jitis). The chiff-chaff ( Sylvia loquax ) also ranks 
with these as an insect-eating bird. All the three are greenish-yellow, 
darkest on the back and wings, and lightest on the breast and belly. 
Their chief food consists of small flies or small caterpillars, such as roll 
up the leaves of trees and shrubs, and particularly the rose-leaf roller 
or ‘ worm i’ the bud/ together with the whole of most destructive 
species of plant-lice (Aphides). Where these birds are plentiful accord¬ 
ingly, they may prove of no little service to the farmer in thinning, on 
their first appearance, wheat-flies, the blue dolphins, the hop-flies, 
and the pea-plant Aphides. This is of great importance, for one of 
these insects killed on its first appearance will prevent the breeding of 
several thousands. 
“ Gardeners are even more prejudiced against the hay-bird in 
particular than farmers usually are, and, in some parts of England, it 
is opprobriously termed the cherry-chopper , from a notion that it 
devours the cherries. That this bird is frequently found on cherry- 
trees is most true, and may be seen in pursuit of the destructive 
cherry plant-louse, a species which is particularly injurious, commencing 
its ravages on the cherry-leaves about the end of April, when the hay- 
bird arrives to assist in preventing their increase. Neither cherries 
nor strawberries are ever tasted by these birds ; and so far, then, from 
