WAXWINGS AND PHAINOPEPLAS 



389 



FiR. 480. Cedar Waxwing. 



Like the Boheniian waxwiiii!; the ccdar-binls are wandercis. travel- 

 ing over the eoiintry in flocks except diiriiii; their late breeding sea- 

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

 others in siicli large compaiucs that when they aliglit 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 numl)ers. 



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 much romance there may be in the famous stories recit 

 ing the polilcncss and alTection of these gentle birds, tjiev merit all 



