WAXWING. 155 



Miss Turner remarks upon their attitudes when feeding 

 resembhng those of the Crossbill ; when the birds swung 

 upside down the chestnut on the under tail-coverts and the 

 broad yellow tip of the fanned-out tail were very noticeable. 

 In summer insects are eaten, but here the food is various 

 berries; "hips" of the wild rose are great favourites, but 

 berries of hawthorn, mistletoe, ivy, elder, juniper and coton- 

 easter are recorded. 



The sexes are alike ; for long it was thought that the number 

 of the "wax" tips to the secondaries indicated sex. These 

 are curious oblong projections at the tips of the shafts of 

 the secondaries, and very occasionally smaller ones on' the 

 tail feathers ; they number usually from four to eight on each 

 side, and resemble lumps of red sealing-wax. It is hardly 

 safe to judge colour from skins, which are apt to be soiled 

 and faded, but the various descriptions of the plumage of 

 the Waxwing vary so much that it is probable that they are 

 taken from birds of different ages and when the feathers were 

 fresh or much worn. The general colour of both upper and 

 under parts is vinaceous brown ; a line from the forehead, 

 above and behind the eye is black, the chin and upper throat 

 are black, and there is a short white streak at the bases of the 

 lower mandible. On the forehead the long erectile crest is 

 distinctly chestnut, as are the cheeks and under tail-coverts. 

 The upper tail-coverts and rump are dove-coloured ; the centre 

 of the abdomen is grey. A conspicuous white bar crosses the 

 blackish wings, and the inner edge of the primaries is white, 

 whilst the outer is yellow, as is a broad band at the tip of the 

 tail. The bill and legs are black, and the irides hazel. The 

 young bird is browner and is without black on the throat. 

 Length, 7*5 ins. Wing, 4-5 ins. Tarsus, '8 in. 



