ry similar
in appearance to the Golden-crested Wren, is not very uncommon in our
Island. The Fire-crested Wren so closely resembles its _confrere_, the
Golden-crested Wren, that only a practised eye can distinguish the
difference between them." I do not quite agree with the 'Star' as to the
Fire-crest not being "very uncommon," though it occasionally occurs. I
do not think it can be considered as anything but a rare occasional
straggler. And this from its geographical distribution, which is rather
limited, is what one would expect; it is not very common on the nearest
coast of France or England, though it occasionally occurs about Torbay,
which is not very far distant.

The name Fire-crest has probably led to many mistakes between this bird
and the Golden-crest, as a brightly-coloured male Gold-crest has the
golden part of the crest quite as bright and as deeply coloured as the
Fire-crest; and the female Fire-crest has a crest not a bit more deeply
coloured than the female Gold-crest. In point of fact the colour of the
crest is of no value whatever in distinguishing between the birds, and
the "practised eye" would find itself puzzled if it only relied upon
that.

The French name for the Fire-crest, however, "Roitelet a triple
bandeau," is much more descriptive, as under the golden part of the
crest there is a streak of black, and under that again a streak of white
over the eye, and a streak of black through the eye; there is also a
streak, or rather perhaps a spot of white, under the eye. The Gold-crest
has only the streak of black immediately under the gold crest; below
that the whole of the side of the face and the space immediately
surrounding the eye is a uniform dull olive-green. If this distinction
is once known and attended to the difference between the two birds may
be immediately detected by even the unpractised eye.

A very interesting account of the nesting of this bird is given by Mr.
Dresser, in his 'Birds of Europe,' he having made a journey to
Altenkirchen, where the Fire-crest is numerous, on purpose to watch it
in the breeding-season. The nest he describes as very like that of the
Golden-crest; the eggs also are much like those of that bird, though a
little redder in colour.

The Fire-crest is not mentioned in Professor Ansted's list, and there is
no specimen at present in the Museum.

45. WREN. _Troglodytes parvulus_, K.L. Koch. French, "Roitelet,"
"Troglodyte mignon," "Troglodyte ordinaire."--