XI 
THE WAXWING FAMILY 
(Ampelide) ' 
THE waxwings are a family of beautiful birds, 
with elegant pointed crests, and wonderfully 
silky plumage. Excepting one species they are in 
soft grayish or reddish brown colors, with yellow 
tips to their tails and black lines on the head 
that look like spectacles, and give them a wise 
appearance. 
Best known is the Cepar W AxwIna, or CEDAR- 
BIRD. He isa citizen at large, you may say, for 
he is known from sea to sea, and from Canada 
to Mexico. He nests all over the northern parts, 
and winters in the southern parts. 
This bird gets his name of cedar-bird from 
the fact that he is fond of cedar berries. He is 
often called cherry-bird also, because he likes 
cherries. His name waxwing comes from the 
little tips like red sealing-wax which are on some 
1 See Appendix, 11. 
