Motacilla Regulus, LINNÆUS; Le Poul, ou Roitelet huppé,
BUFFON; Das Goldhähnchen, BECHSTEIN.
This is the smallest of European birds. It is three inches and a half in
length, of which the tail measures one and a quarter. The beak is
four lines, slender, very sharp, and black, having the nostrils covered
with a feather divided like a comb; the iris is dusky; the shanks are
eight lines in height, and brownish flesh-coloured; the forehead is
yellowish brown; a black streak extends from the corners of the beak to
the eyes, above which is a white streak, and below them a white speck;
the top of the head is saffron yellow, each side edged with golden
yellow, beyond which is a black band.
[Illustration: GOLD-CRESTED WREN.]
The female has the top of the head golden yellow, the forehead and wings
grey.
HABITATION.--When wild these pretty little birds are diffused
throughout the old world, principally frequenting pine and fir
forests, and do not appear to migrate, excepting those that inhabit
northern countries, and go towards the south in October, and return
in March; at least, they are then observed on their passage, in
Germany, the hedges being full of them in spring; but those
established among us remain, as they are seen all the year. They
assemble in small flights in winter, and fly about here and there,
like the tits, seeking places where their food is most abundant.
In the house a bell-shaped cage appears to suit them best. Several
may be kept together in a part of a room enclosed with trellis work,
and with a small fir tree for them to perch on. Reared from the nest,
they may be allowed to perch on a tree in the room, which they enjoy
so much that they are never far from it; if there are many they will
perch in a row, press close side by side, and sleep in this manner.
FOOD.--In the wild state it feeds on all kinds of small insects and
their grubs; they are, however, able to swallow large flies, as the
beak has a wide opening.
In the house the gold-crests are soon accustomed to the nightingales'
paste, by throwing amongst it at first flies deprived of their wings,
or half dead, and at length they will be satisfied with bruised
hemp-seed; but they must have insects occasionally, flies, meal-worms
cut small, ants' eggs, &c.; finally, to keep them healthy, their
paste should be neither too stiff nor too moist, and care must be
taken to avoid their swallowing rape or camelin seed, which would
immediately kill them[106].
BREEDING.--The nest, fixed to the extremity of a branch, is round, and
very soft, built of moss, caterpillar's cocoons, and tufts of thistle
down; it is generally found in low underwood or meadows with woods
adjoining, on the first tree towards the east. About nine eggs are
laid, the size of a pea, and pale blush red. Those young ones
intended to be reared must not be taken from the nest till they are
fledged, and it is best to catch them just as they are leaving the
nest. They eat readily meal-worms cut small, flies, ants' eggs, and
white bread soaked in boiled milk.
MODE OF TAKING.--As they are not fearful, they may easily be caught by
gently approaching the tree where one is perched, and merely striking
it with a limed twig fastened to a pole long enough to reach it. It
may be brought down also with water, in the manner adopted by M. Le
Vaillant, that is, by first putting into a gun the common charge of
powder, then a wadding of silk, then, as soon as the bird is within
reach, two spoonfuls of water are poured in and covered with a second
wadding of silk, which must not be rammed down hard, lest the water
should reach the powder below. This load, discharged at the distance
of twenty paces, is capable of wetting the bird so completely that it
may be taken by the hand; but if there are hedges in the
neighbourhood, or if a stronger bird be fired at, a chaffinch, for
instance, it may easily escape.
Many gold-crested wrens may be caught by means of a hut set for any
small birds, when the way to attract them is known. They come in
great numbers to the water trap, and by their often repeated call of
_tzitt, tzitt_, give notice of sunset and the arrival of larger
birds.
They will soon grow tame enough to eat out of the hand. On account of
their delicacy, many often die before a person succeeds in rearing
one; but when once accustomed to the house they will live a long
time, at least if not hurt by other birds, and if they do not swallow
what they cannot digest.
ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--The smallness of their size, their elegance and
beauty, render them a pleasant acquisition; but their song adds to
their attractions, for though weak it is very melodious, and
resembles that of the canary.