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tipped with a small wax-like coral red 

 prolongation of the shaft, from which 

 the bird is called " Waxwing." 



In young birds, a streak of waxy red 

 color appears on the feather shafts 

 before the waxy tip develops. 



Distribution. — Europe and northern 

 Asia as far south as the Yangtse Valley 

 in winter, 



THE JAPANESE WAXWING. 



AMPELIS JAPONICUS, (sIEBOLD). 



Description. — Length seven inches. 

 General color of plumage dark silky 

 gray, similar to the Bohemian Waxwing 

 (Ampelis garrulus), but the lesser wing 

 coverts are bordered with dull crimson, 

 and the tail has a subterminal band of 

 bright red, and the under tail coverts 

 are red. The primaries have at the 

 outer end a short narrow spot of white. 

 The secondaries are tipped with red, 

 but lack the wax-like tips. 



Distribution. — Siberia, north China, 

 Japan, and Formosa. A rare winter 

 visitant to the Yangtse Valley. 



Family, Laniidae, the Shrikes. 



This is a Family about which there 

 is much lack of agreement, as taken 

 here it.includes only the true Shrikes, 

 whose characteristics may be given as 

 follows : they are robust, stocky birds 

 of small size, with lax plumage, and a 

 very strong bill, both hooked and 

 notched. The round nostrils are 

 located near the base of the bill, 

 and are partly covered with feathers 

 and bristles. The wings are short, 

 rounded and powerful. There are ten 

 primaries, of which the outer is usually 

 more than half the length of the next 

 one. The tail is either graduated or 



