Pine Grosbeak and Bohemian Chatterer. 467 



mandible overhanging- tlie lower considerably, approaching in its 

 form to that of the parrot ; base of the bill, covered with recum- 

 bent hairs of a dark brown colour. The whole plumage near the 

 roots, as in most other birds, is of a deep bluish ash colour. The 

 female was half an inch shorter, and answered nearly to the above 

 description ; only those parts that in the male were crimson were 

 in her of a yellowish colour." 



In an interesting paper (on the Land Birds wintering in the 

 neighbourhood of Toronto, by G. W. Allan, Esq.,) read before the 

 Canadian Institute in 1853, it is stated that this species visited the 

 vicinity of that city in 1839, in large flocks. In 1836 they were 

 shot so far south as Philadelphia. It is a constant resident how- 

 ever in the cold regions of the Hudson's Bay territory, and is only 

 seen in the inhabited southern border of Canada in very cold 

 winters. 



This bird is said to be a charming songster, Wilson kept one of 

 them in a cage for more than half a year, and he remarkes that 

 in May and June its song, though not so loud as some birds of its 

 size, was extremely clear, mellow and sweet. It would warble 

 out this for a whole morning together, and acquired several notes 

 of the red bird that hung near it. 



Bomhycilla garrula. This bird very much resembles the com- 

 mon Wax-wing or cedar bird, sometimes also called the cherry 

 bird in this country. From the account which follows it will be 

 seen, however, that this species is ditferent and has a very wide 

 geographical range, being an European as well as an American 

 bird. On this continent it breeds in the northwe^^t, snd only visits 

 us in cold winters. 



The following description is from the Engbch Cyclopaedia : 



B. garrula, European Wax-Wing or Chatterer. This elegant 

 species, which is also known by the English names of the Bohe- 

 mian Chatterer, Bohemian Wax-Wing and Silk-Tail, is Le Jaseur 

 de Boheme, (BufFon, &c.). Grand Jaseur (Temminck), and Geay 

 de Boheme of the French ; Garrulo di Boemia of the Italians • 

 Rothlichgrauer Seidenschwantz (Meyer), Europaischer Seidensch- 

 wanz, and Gemeine Seidenschwanz (Bechstein) of the Ge mans; 

 Garrulus Bohemicus of Gesner ; Bomhycilla of Schwenck • 

 Ampelis of Aldrovand ; Bomhycilla Bohemica of Brisson ; Am- 

 pelis garrulus of Linnaeus ; Bomhyciphora garrula of Bi-ebm ; 

 Bomhyciphora poliocoiUa ot Meyer ; Bomhydvora garrula ©f 

 Temminck ; and Bomhycilla garrula of Vieillot. 



