HOME BIRDS 83 



society. One rarely sees a single Waxwing. Usually 

 they are found in small flocks, the members of which 

 associate so closely that they seem to act as one 

 bird. When they alight In a tree they perch close- 

 ly together, often sitting in a row on the same 

 limb, like Parrakeets. When they leave, they take 

 wing at the same moment and fly in close forma- 

 tion. 



Perhaps it may be their attachment for one an- 

 other that delays their pairing and establishment 

 here and there as separate families. As a rule, they 

 do not begin to nest before the middle of June, a 

 date when most of our birds have families on the 

 wing. Only the Goldfinch nests later. 



While a fondness for cedar berries is responsible 

 for the Waxwing's first name, he shows no prefer- 

 ence for cedar trees as a home site. Indeed, the 

 large, well-formed nest is usually placed In a shade 

 or fruit tree often on our lawn. 



The eggs, which number from three to five, are 

 quite unhke those of any other of our birds. Their 

 ground color Is pale bluish gray, which Is thickly 

 and distinctly spotted with black and dark brown. 



The Waxwing has no real song and his faint, 

 lisping calls and string of beady notes are probably 

 uttered by both sexes. Nor does the male differ 

 from the female in color. Not every individual, It 



