PASSERES — AMPELIDjE — BOMBYCILLA. 43 



THE BLACK-THROATED WAXWING. 



BOMBYCILLA GARRULA. 



PLATE XXVI. FIG. 57 (Female). 



(CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 



Ampelis garrulus. L1NN.EUS, Syst. 



Bombycilta garrula. Bonaparte, Am. Orn. Vol.3, p. 7,pl.lG, fig. 2 : Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol.2, p. 438. Rich- 

 ardson, F. B. A Vol.2, p 237. Ncttall, Vol. 1, p. 246. Aodubon, B. of A. Vol. 

 4, p. 165, pi. 49. 



Black-throated JVaxwing. Giractd, Birds of Long Island, p. 165. 



Characteristics. Drab. Throat, frontlet and line over the eye black. Belly ashen ; vent 

 rufous. Wings and tail blackish : the latter tipped with yellow ; the 

 former with two series of white marks. Length, 8-9 inches. 



Description. The feathers of the crown form a crest nearly an inch broad and an inch 

 and a half in ljngth. Secondaries with four to seven of the shafts terminating in bright red 

 waxen appendages, occasionally wanting. Adult males with the ends of the shafts of the 

 tail-feathers slightly enlarged at the end, and bright red. Tail three inches long. 



Color Brownish grey. A narrow line over the base of the upper mandible, extending to 

 the eyes and beyond them, and the upper part of the throat, deep black : a narrow streak 

 below the lower mandible, white. Wing-fealhers blackish. Coverts largely tipped with 

 white, forming a band. Secondaries marked in a similar manner, but forming a larger band. 

 Quills with a bright yellow spot at the end of the outer web. Tail broadly tipped with yellow. 

 Irides dark red. 



Length, 8-0-9-5. 



This species inhabits the northern regions of Europe and Asia. The first published 

 account of it as an inhabitant of North America, is due to Charles Bonaparte, Prince of 

 Canino, who introduced it in his Synopsis of the Birds of North America, in the Annals of 

 the Lyceum referred to above. It was first observed in high northern latitudes, but has since 

 been noticed as far south as Philadelphia. The specimen from which our figure was taken, 

 was shot in the autumn of 1835, in the neighborhood of this city. It is still a rare species, 

 but is apparently on the increase. 



