FEMALE GOLDEN-CROWNED GOLD-CREST. 25 
That the reader may be assured of the specific difference between 
these two birds, I add a short comparative description. The Reg- 
ulus cristatus has the bill very feeble, and quite subulate; whilst 
that of the ignicapillus is also subulate, but is wider at base. The 
cheeks of the former are pure cinereous, without any white lines, 
having only a single blackish one through the eye; those of the 
latter, in addition to the black line through the eye, have a pure 
white one above, and another below, whence Temminck calls it 
Roitelet triple bandeau. The English name also may be derived 
from this character, or the bird may rather be called Fire-crowned 
Gold-crest, from its Latin name. The crest of the male Golden- 
crowned Gold-crest is yellowish-orange, that of the Fire-crowned 
is of the most vivid orange; but, the most obvious difference is 
between the females, that of the Golden-crowned having a lemon- 
yellow crest, which, in the female of its congener, is orange, like 
that of the male, only much less vivid. The cheek bands of the 
female Fire-crowned are by no means so obvious as in its mate; 
thus the female of this species resembles the male Golden-crowned, 
than which the colours of its crest are not less brilliant. If, to 
these traits, we add, that the latter is a little larger, w r e shall com¬ 
plete the enumeration of their differences. 
The two species are also somewhat distinguished by their manner 
of living. 1 he Golden-crowned Gold-crest associates in small 
bands, consisting of a whole family, whilst the Fire-crowned is 
only observed in pairs. The latter is more shy, and frequents the 
tops of the highest trees, whereas the former is more generally 
observed amongst low branches and bushes; the voice of the Fire- 
crowned Gold-crest is also stronger. Their nests, however, are 
both of the same admirable construction, having the entrance on 
the upper part; but the eggs are different in colour, and those of 
the Fire-crowned are fewer in number. 
The female Golden-crowned Gold-crest is three inches and three 
quaiters long, and six in extent. The bill is black; the feet dusky; 
VOL. I,-G 
