Zoological Illustrations Series II/Plate 51



With the exception of the Humming Birds, the Gold crests are the smallest birds in creation. The natural size of the only species found in this country is here represented; while the weight seldom exceeds eighty grains. Notwithstanding its delicate structure, this beautiful little bird braves the severest winters of Northern Europe: it is found in Denmark (Müll. Zool. Dan.), and extends to the borders of the Arctic Circle, (Temm.) It is more frequent with us than is generally supposed, but its diminitive size screens it from observation. It is perpetually in motion: hopping among the branches, examining every leaf and spray, and will frequently catch minute insects that endeavour to escape, by darting at them like a Flycatcher: we have repeatedly watched a pair of these birds which frequented our garden at Warwick, in the middle of winter, for three years: their favourite resort was an old fir-tree, which they regularly and carefully explored, much in the manner of the Titmice (Parii.)

If the name of Sylvia is to be retained in Ornithological systems, it should obviously be applied to this, which has been correctly thought the typical group of the whole family. Acanthiza, for reasons elsewhere explained, appears a subordinate type, and Phyllopneuste cannot be adopted, without a glaring violation of natural affinities.