532 • AMPELIDiE. 



numerously, in the Muonioniska and Kittila districts, and 

 so likewise in 1860. Since then its nests have been found 

 in the same tract almost every year, but never, so far as 

 appears, in such inordinate numbers as in 1858, and but for 

 the discovery of 1856 its i^resence would most likely have 

 passed unnoticed as it doubtless had done before,* while, 

 according to HH. Palmen and Sahlberg, in 1867 not a 

 single Waxwing was seen in the district. 



Thus«it would appear that the Waxwing is as irregular in 

 the choice of its summer as of its winter quarters, and the 

 causes which influence its movements still remain for the 

 investigation of the curious. Its diet varies according to 

 the season : in summer consisting mainly of insects, which 

 it catches on the wing, springing upon them from its look- 

 out station on the topmost twig of a tree, but berries of 

 various kinds even then do not come amiss, while in winter 

 these alone form its food, and upon them it will literally 

 gorge itself, coming into suburban gardens to obtain them. 

 It is a somewhat stupid and a remarkably silent bird, only 

 occasionally uttering a low call-note, which is trilling and 

 musical, but when gathered in large flocks the emission of 

 this from numerous throats makes a loud twittering noise. 

 In confinement it is especially dull, while its greediness 

 renders it a very unpleasing cage-bird. 



Since the discovery which has shed so much light on the 

 history of the Waxwing, it has been found breeding in 

 places far apart. Wheelwright says he obtained eggs in 

 1862 from near Quickjock, and its nests have since been 

 taken in the valley of the Tana. Herr Collett gives good 

 reason for supposing that in certain years it breeds spora- 

 dically in southern Norway, and it is believed to do the same 

 in many parts of Finland. There can also be no doubt of 

 its breeding on the shores of the White Sea and other places 

 in northern Eussia, but the statements as to its nests 

 having been built in Germany, Holland, and even (Zool. s.s. 



* Wolley satisfied himself from the evidence of a few people that in some 

 former years the bird had been very abundant, but to the majority it was quite 

 iinknown. 



