passing southward in rigorous seasons, for a time in January and February, but returning very early in March en route to its northern breeding-grounds.
It has a decided preference for evergreens and searches tirelessly by the hour for insects in the rough bark, but it is so very small and restless that it may easily escape notice. My first discovery of the bird in the garden was in December, while looking in the spruces for the source of what I supposed to be the wiry note of some belated insect. A gleam of sunlight shooting through the branches, touched the flaming crown of the Kinglet, who was quite close and eyeing me inquisitively.
The bird has been known to breed in Worcester County, Mass., and the nest is described by Mr. Brewster, who says that in one nest the outer walls were made of soft green mosses and lichens; near the top were feathers of the Ruffed Grouse, Hermit Thrush, and Ovenhird, ranged quills down so that they made a tent-like protection for the eggs. In the two nests which contained eggs, they were so numerous as to be piled in two layers, one above the other.
It would be interesting to know how the tiny birds manage to hatch such a quantity of eggs: whether they are turned and stirred up daily in order to bring all equally to the warmth of the body, or if perhaps the top row hatches first and the young birds, by their warmth, aid in bringing out their brothers and sisters.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet:Regulus calendula.
- Length:
- 4-4.50 inches.
- Male:
- Vermilion spot on crown (which, bowever, does not always appear until the second year). Ash-gray head, back olive-gray, yellowish on tail. Wings brownish olive with yellow and white edgings. Breast and under parts yellowish gray. Edges of eyelids white. Bill black, feet dark brown.
- Female:
- Lacking the red head spot.
Song:
- A thin, metallic call note, like a vibrating wire. Song full, varied, and melodious; often heard here in the spring migration.
- Season:
- In the migrations April-May and October-November.
- Breeds:
- Mostly north of the United States.
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