WAXWINGS AND PHAINOPEPLAS 



389 



Fig. 480 



ir Waxwiiijj. 



Like the Bohemiiui waxwing the cedar-birds are wanderers, travel- 

 ing over the country in flocks except during their hite breeding sea- 

 son. Sometimes they appear in small bands of less than a score, at 

 others in such large companies that when they alight in a pepper- 

 tree and fall to eating the berries their plump, moving forms seen 

 through the foliage make the trees seem alive with their numbers. 



Though they all talk at once, as they usually do, their sibilant 

 notes are so soft and subdued that a passer-by would .scarcely heed 

 their presence. 



However mu(!h romance there may be in the fjimous stories recit 

 ing the politeness and alTection of these gentle binls. they merit all 



