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Wintering Robins and Cedar Waxwings. 



At Belmont, Massaduisetts, adjoining 

 Cambridge, where the veneral^le Waverley 

 Oaks are within one of the public reserva- 

 tions, a bewildering number of birds was 

 found on January 7 and 8, 1902. ITpon 

 reaching the grounds a very unusual activity 

 in the quiet bird-life of midwinter was at 

 once apparent. Many birds were flitting 

 from bough to bough of the great oaks and 

 the shrubbery beneath. The subdued cries 

 of Robins reached the ear, and presently 

 their coloration was seen. With them, but 

 in closer groups, were Cedar Waxw'ings. 

 They, too, were numerous, and upon a 

 nearer approach many were seen to be in 

 full beauty of plumage, the black markings 

 about the bill strong, the brown of the 

 back rich in shade, the yellow on the under 

 side of the body almost as bright as the tips 

 of the tail feathers, and the dots of scarlet 

 upon the wings clearly discernable. Their 

 pointed crests were well raised above their 

 heads. They showed to a full degree that 

 sleekness of plumage and refined air which 

 are characteristic of the species. And now 

 their ' wheezy whistles ' were heard. Be- 

 neath the old oaks were privets well hung 

 with berries, and red cedars. In among 

 the boughs of these were many both of the 

 Robins and Cedarbirds, making a satisfying 

 meal. Occasionally from a high branch 

 overhead came a Robin's 'cheerily, cheer- 

 ily, cheerily.' Now a squad of Cedar- 

 birds makes a rapid sweep through the air 

 and returns to its perch in a tree-top. Now 

 half a dozen Robins descend to the edge of 

 a small stream, tributary to Beaver creek, 

 and take a plunge. It is a happy company, 

 not at all discouraged by rigors of winter. 

 There is no suggestion that the season is 

 going hard with them. Voices are cheerful, 

 movements are quick. 



But what is the number of each species? 

 At length the Waxwings seem well settled 

 in several smaller close flocks upon near 



trees and can be counted with approximate 

 accuracy. There are seventy-five or eighty. 

 And now the Robins begin to pass in 

 squads from the left to the right across an 

 open space to another group of trees and 

 shrubbery beyond. It is the time to get 

 their number. Successively they go in half- 

 dozens and twenties. The movement is all 

 one way. Seventy-five, one hundred, have 

 been counted. Still they go. One hundred 

 and twenty-three, and there the movement 

 stops. Now snow-flakes begin to sift down, 

 and a chilling breeze quickens from the 

 north. Notwithstanding there comes to the 

 ear 'cheerily, cheerily, cheerily,' as the ob- 

 server leaves the ground. By afternoon the 

 snow was falling fast. It seemed of inter- 

 est to ascertain whether all these birds were 

 still at the reservation, stout-hearted and 

 happy. So a second trip was made from 

 the city. Yes; they were all there at three 

 o'clock in the afternoon. Again an enu- 

 meration \vas made. The Cedarbirds 

 numbered about the same as at noon. The 

 Robins, however, as they repeated a one- 

 direction flight, were reckoned up as one 

 hundred and seventy-seven. So not all 

 were seen at the noon hour. Just before 

 four o'clock all took wing, both Robins and 

 Waxwings. I'hey were quickly lost to 

 view in the fast-falling snow. Were they 

 seeking some well -proved thick covert for 

 the night? No longer could one be seen 

 or heard. In the following forenoon, under 

 skies still clouded and with five inches of 

 newly fallen snow underfoot, a third trip to 

 the ' Oaks ' was made, to see if these flocks 

 were repeating the visit of the day before. 

 Yes; the\ were there again in full numbers. 

 The Cedarbirds seemed to be rather more 

 numerous and to be quite a hundred. The 

 Robins reckoned up, as the first time, about 

 a hundred and twenty-five. The privet 

 berries were still in ample supply. The 

 little stream flowed between snowy banks 

 and afforded the same bathing facilities, 

 which the Robins were again utilizing. To 



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