66 



March24, 1857. 

 Dr. Gray, F.R.S., in the Chair. 

 The following papers were read : — 

 1. On the Nešt and Eggs of the Waxwing (Bombycilla 



GARRULA, TeMM.). By JoHN WoLLEY, JuN., EsQ. 



(Avės, PI. CXXII.) 



The Waxwing, as observed ia Lapland, makes a good-sized aiid 

 substantial nešt, but without much indication of advanced art. It is 

 of some depth, and regularly shaped, though built of rather intrac- 

 table materials. As in those of many other birds in the Arctic 

 forests, the main substance is of the kind of lichen commonly called 

 tree-hair, which hangs so abundantly from the branches of almost 

 every tree. This hchen somewhat resembles a mass of deUcate root- 

 lets, or perhaps may be compared to coarse brown wool ; but some 

 of it is whitish, and in one nešt there is a little of this mixed with 

 the ordinary brown or black. This main substance of the nešt is 

 strengthened below by a platform of dead twigs, aiS[ higher up to- 

 wards the interior by a greater or less amount of flowering stalks of 

 grass, and occasionally pieces of equisetum. It is also interspersed 

 with a little rein-deer lichen, perhaps a sprig or two of green moss, 

 and even some pieces of willow cotton. There may also be observed 

 a little of the very fine silvery-looking fibre of grass leaves which 

 probably have been reduced to that eondition by long soaking in 

 water. In one of the nests examined there were several pen-feathers 

 of small birds as au apology for a lining. Of other nests which are 

 to be found in the šame forest, it most resembles, but is considerably 

 less, than that of the Siberian Jay, which however is less securely 

 put together, but has many more feathers and soft materials for a 

 lining. 



The uest of the "Waxwing is built on the branch of a tree, not 

 near the hole, and rather, as onė of the observers has said, standing 

 up from the branch likę a Fieldfare's or other Thrush's nešt, than 

 supported by tvrigs touching it at the sides, as the nests of many 

 birds are supported. Of six nests, four were in small Spruces, one 

 in a good-sized Scotch fir,'and one in a Birch — all placed at a height 

 of from 6 to 1 2 feet above the ground. The tree in several instances 

 was unhealthy, thin and scraggy in its branches, to which there hung 

 a good deal of hair lichen ; and the nešt seems generally much ex- 

 posed, though from its resemblance to the lichen hanging near, it 

 might escape the eye. The nests found were in parts of the forest 

 considerably open, once or twice on the side of low hills, near a river, 

 or vvith an undergrowth of dvvarf swamp-loving shrubs. But at 

 present we have scarcely enough examples to show that there is a 

 preference for any particular kind of ground. 



Five seems to be the ordinary number of eggs ; in one nešt only 



