I am indebted to the late Mr. J . D. Hoy for some notes
on this species, as observed by him, to the effect that in
the parts of Belgium visited by him he found it only as a
migratory species during the autumn : it probably passes over
the same districts in the spring, but he had not then observed
it. Ho fully expected to have found it in some very extensive
tracts of forest, situated between the Meuse and the Rhine;
but he could neither meet with this species, nor with the
common one. He noticed its appearance in the beginning
of September, at first only single birds or in pairs—the end
of September, and the first fortnight in October, seeming
to be the time when they pass in the greatest numbers. He
did not recollect ever having seen more than five or six
individuals together, whereas the common species is found in
parties of a dozen or more, and is abundant throughout the
winter, but the Fire-crested Wren is rarely seen even in the
early part of November. Its call-note can be readily distinguished
among a host of the common species, being shorter,
not so shrill, and pitched in a different key, so that it is
easily discovered. It seems to prefer low brushwood and
young plantations of fir to the loftier trees ; but yet is often
found in the latter situations. I t associates with the various
kinds of Titmouse like the other species; but is sometimes
more restless and sliy.
This bird is thought to have been seen in the Faeroes,
but, except on a few occasions in Denmark, is elsewhere
unknown in Scandinavia. I t has occurred at Borkum and
Heligoland, and seems to be a summer-visitor throughout
Germany—in most districts far less common than the preceding
species, but breeding in many localities, while in
some few it is said to be also found in winter. Its eastern
limits appear to be bounded by a line running from Danzig in
a south-easterly direction through Kiev to the Crimea, where
it is however rare. I t would seem to be pretty common in
Turkey and Greece, and Strickland obtained it in December
at Smyrna. I t winters in some parts of Italy and has been
found in Sardinia and Malta. I t is said to occur in all the
provinces of Algeria and to be especially common in the
forests of Constantine. It has also been observed in the
Balearic Islands and in various parts of Spain, while in
Portugal it is abundant. I t winters in the South of France
and Vieillot found it breeding near Rouen. In Belgium,
already mentioned, it is ordinarily a bird of double passage,
though it has been said to occur also in winter, and in Holland
it only appears during its migration.
The bill is black, and rather stouter at the base than that
of the Golden-crested Wren : the irides hazel: on the cheek
above the eye, and also below it, a greyish-white streak;
at the base of the crest on each side a black streak; from
the gape to the eye, and over the ear-coverts, a second black
streak; and from the lower mandible, passing downwards
and backwards, a third black streak; the forehead greyisli-
white, generally tinged with rufous; the crest of a much
redder-orange than that of the preceding species ; the nape,
back and upper tail-coverts, olive-green, inclining to orange;
the sides of the neck golden-green; the lesser wing-coverts
tipped with white; coverts of the primaries black; those
of the secondaries tipped with white, overlying a black spot
on the base of the secondaries and tertials ; quills blackish-
brown, edged with green—the tertials tipped outwardly with
dirty white; the tail-feathers longer than those of the
Golden-crested W ren ; all the lower parts greyish-brown :
legs, toes and claws, brown.
The whole length nearly four inches. From the carpus
to the end of the primaries, two inches.
The young of the year are stated by Mr. Jenyns, “ to be
distinguished from those of the last species by the longer
and broader b ill: cheeks cinereous, without any appearance
of the longitudinal streaks: crest of a pale lemon-yellow,
scarcely developed : forehead, and sides of the neck, cinereous;
upper parts not so bright as in the ad u lt: under parts
cinereous, tinged with yellow.”
The black streak in which the eye is placed is the character
by which this species can be most readily distinguished from
the preceding. Its American representative with which it
was so long confounded wants the golden-green colour of the
sides of the neck.