BOHEMIAN WAX-WING. 287 



these winged strangers then considered, that Ave find it placed upon 

 record. However extraordinary it may seem to those who live in this 

 enlightened age and country, that the unusual appearance of " Cedar- 

 birds of a large kind" should strike terror into the souls of men, such 

 notwithstanding was the effect in more ignorant times. They have been 

 looked upon as the precursors of war, pestilence, and other public 

 calamities. One of their irruptions was experienced in Italy in 1571, 

 when flocks of hundreds were seen flying about in the north of that country 

 in the month of December, and were easily caught. A similar visit 

 had taken place in 1530 in February, marking the epoch when Charles Y. 

 caused himself to be crowned at Bologna. Aldrovandi, from whom we 

 learn the above particulars, also informs us that large flocks of them 

 appeared in 1551, when it Avas remarked that though they spread in 

 numbers through the Modenese, the Plaisantine, and other parts of 

 Italy, they carefully avoided entering the Ferrarese, as if to escape the 

 dreadful earthquake that was felt soon after, causing the very birds to 

 turn their flight. In 1552, Gesner informs us, they appeared along 

 the Rhine near Mentz in Germany in such numbers as to obscure the 

 sun. They have however of late years, in Italy and Germany, and in 

 France especially at all times, been extremely rare, being seen only in 

 small companies or singly, appearing as if they had strayed from their 

 way. In England, the Bohemian Wax-Aving has always been a rare 

 visitant, coming only at long and uncertain intervals. In the winter of 

 1810 large flocks Avere dispersed through various parts of that kingdom ; 

 from which period Ave do not find it recorded by English writers till the 

 month of February 1822, Avhen a fcAv came under Mr. Selby's inspec- 

 tion, and several Avere again observed during the severe storm in the 

 winter of 1823. Upon the continent, its returns are subject to similar 

 uncertainty. In M. Necker's very interesting memoir lately published 

 on the birds of Geneva, we read, that from the beginning of this century 

 only tAvo considerable flights have been observed in that canton, one in 

 January 1807, and the other in January 1814, Avhen they were very 

 numerous, and spent the Avinter there, all departing in March. In 

 1807 they were dispersed over a great portion of Avestern Europe, and 

 were seen near Edinburgh in the first days of that year. 



What extent of country they inhabit or frequent in this continent, 

 and whether numerous or not, we are unable to state. The specimen 

 here figured was obtained, together with others, from the north-Avestern 

 range of the Rocky Mountains, and the species appears to spread 

 widely, as we have been credibly informed by hunters that " Cedar- 

 birds of a large kind" have been shot a little beyond the Mississippi, at 

 a very great distance from the spot where ours was obtained. Thus 

 does this species extend its range round the whole earth, from the coasts 

 of Europe eastAvardly to the Rocky Mountains in America; and avc are 



