WAXWING 65 



{Trans. Norf. Nat. Soc, vol. vi. pp. 429-438). 

 Mr. John Young has been very successful in his 

 treatment of the Bearded Tit as a cage bird, and 

 has induced it to breed in confinement {Field, 

 Oct. 1875, and Zool, 1875, p. 4693). 



In a state of freedom it feeds on insects, small 

 thin-shelled mollusca, and the seeds of the reed. Its 

 singular, tinkling notes may be well imitated by 

 balancing a penny on the middle finger of each hand 

 and striking the edges together. 



Fam. AMPELIDiE. 



WAXWING. Ampelis garrulus, Linnseus. PL 5, figs. 

 5, 5a. Length, 8 in. ; wing, 4'5 in. ; tarsus, 0-9 in. 



An irregular winter visitant, occasionally appear- 

 ing in the eastern and north-eastern counties in 

 large flocks. It was particularly numerous in the 

 winters of 1830-31, 1834-35, 1849-50, 1866-67, 

 1872-73. Although more frequently met with in 

 the north and east, it has been observed in almost 

 every county in England to the south and south- 

 west ; but it is of very rare occurrence in Ireland. 



Stevenson's account of the plumage of the Wax- 

 wing {Trans. Norf. Nat. Soc, iii. pp. 326-344) 

 should be referred to. He dissected 69 specimens, 

 41 males and 28 females, and found that the 

 number of waxlike tips on the secondaries is vari- 

 able. Of the males examined, 3 had 4 tips, 7 had 5, 

 14 had 6, 14 had 7, and 3 had 8; of the females, 

 1 had 2, 4 had 3, 7 had 4, 6 had 5, 7 had 6, 



