OF NEW ENGLAND. 137 



quently observed both male and female, a little before sunset, 

 in parts of the forest clear of underwood, darting after winged 

 insects, and continuing thus engaged till it was almost dusk." 

 "The food of these birds consists of various kinds of bugs, 

 and large black beetles. In several instances I have found the 

 stomach entirely' filled with the broken remains of humble 

 bees. During the season of whortle-berries they seem to sub- 

 sist almost entirely on these berries ; but in the early part of 

 the season on insects of the above description." 



(d). "The note of the male is a strong and sonorous whis- 

 tle, resembling a loose trill or shake on the notes of a fife, 

 frequently repeated ; that of the female is rather a kind of 

 chattering, approaching nearly to the nqnd pronunciation of 

 chicJcy-tucky-tuck, chicky-tucky-tucJc, when she sees any person 

 approaching the neighbourhood of her nest. She is, however, 

 rarely seen, and usually mute, and scarcely to be distinguished 

 from the color of the foliage at a distance." 



Having never seen the Red Birds alive, I have no further 

 remarks to make upon their habits. 



§11. Ampelidae. Waxwings. (See§10.)38 

 I. AMPELIS 



(A) CEDRORUM. Cedar-bird. Cherry-bird. (Carolina) Wax- 

 wing. " Canada Robin." 



(A common resident in New England, but nomadic and 

 irregular in appearance.) 



(a). 6-7 inches long. Of a peculiar warm brown (or 

 creamy chocolate?). Chin, black. Forehead, and a broad 

 stripe through the eye, continuously the same. Belly, j^ellow 

 (or 3-ellowish). Under tail-coverts, and some fine markings on 

 the head, white (or whitish). Tail, yellow-tipped. Strange 

 appendages, resembling bits of red sealing-wax, are found, 

 often upon the wings, and sometimes upon the tail, of full- 

 plumaged specimens. 



s' This family should more properly stand between the vireos and swallows as 

 §12, 



