140 BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND AND EASTERN NEW YORK 



tipped with red; line from bill through eye black; long crest- 

 feathers often conspicuously elevated. 



Nest, of grass, stalks of weeds, etc., on the limb of a tree, from 

 ten to thirty feet up. Eggs, gray or bluish, spotted with black or 

 dark brown. 



A few Cedar-birds are occasionally seen in southern New 

 England and the lower Hudson Valley in early winter, and 

 in mid- winter great flocks appear, especially near the coast, 

 and feed on the berries of the red cedar. In April these 

 birds often disappear, and the breeding birds do not arrive 

 till ]May. These come in small flocks, and do not pair till 

 June, and often do not build till July. They now frequent 

 almost every kind of country where both trees and open 

 spaces occur, nesting in orchards, neglected pastures, and 

 open spaces in woodland throughout New England and 

 New York. In the upland region of middle New England 

 they are among the most abundant birds. In late summer 

 they gather about water, and spend much time flying out or 

 up after insects. They are very fond of small fruits, and in 

 September gather in flocks, often with Robins, in the rum- 

 cherry trees. By November they have almost all disap- 

 peared. The young in early fall have none of the rich brown 

 of the parents, being of a much grayer shade, with streaked 

 breasts. Cedar-birds often fly in compact flocks, which wheel 

 on set wings before alighting. Their only note throughout 

 the year is a wheezy lisp. 



S'WALLOWS : FAMILY HIRUNDINID-ffi 



Five species of Swallow (the Chimney Swallow, so called, 

 is really a Swift ; see p. 210) occur throughout New York 

 and New England. The Barn Swallow is by far the com- 

 monest, and is found wherever old-fashioned barns exist ; 

 though a meadow-haunting bird in inland regions, it is a 

 constant visitor along the sea-beaches, and over bays and 



