2*1
GOLUCREST.
S V W I D W , OF T H E A N C I E N T B R I T I S H.
GOLOEN-eRESTEU KINO LET. nOLUEN-CRESTEO WREN.
fiOlDF.N-OROWNFT) WREN.
Kegulus crisfatas,
Regulus auricapiilns.
Regains vulgaris,
Moiacilla regains,
Svlvia regal as,
FLEMING. RAY.
SELRY. JENYNS.
GOULD.
MONTAGU.
PENNANT. MONTAGU.
Regulus—A diminutive of Rex—a king. Cristafus—Crested.
T H E Goldcrest, the smallest of our British Birds, is a European
species, and its northern range extends to the Arctic circle, being found
in part of Russia, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and south to
Germany and the shores of the Mediterranean. It has been obtained
also in Asia, in Siberia, Persia, and, according to Temminck, in Japan.
This truly elegant and diminutive bird is generally distributed over
the whole of England and Scotland, from the ' L a n d ' s End to John
O'Groat's House;' as also in Wales, Guernsey and Sark, and in
Ireland, It is more common in the north than in the south. In Yorkshire
it is plentiful. Also in Lincolnshire, as at Tetney and Alford.
In Cornwall it is common. In Orkney it is pretty numerous during
winter; many arrive there in October and November, during gales
from the east. It occurs also in Shetland.
Two of these little birds arc stated in the 'Zoologist,' page 188, by
Mr. George Swaysland, to have been met with with at sea, forty miles
from land. They remain with us all the year through, at least manv
of them do.
Additional ones come over to us in the autumn, and in like manner