59 
WAXWING. 
BOHEMIAN WAXWING. BOHEMIAN CHATTERER. SILKTAI. 
EUROPEAN CHATTERER. WAXEN CHATTERER. 
Bombycivora garrula, TEMMINCK, 
Bombycilla 3 FLEMING, 
as Bohemica, BRISSON. 
Ampelis garrulus, Linnzvus. GMELIN. 
Bombyx—aA silk-worm, Voro—To devour. Garrula—Garrulous. 
THe endless variety of nature, though doubtless in the 
whole connected by almost imperceptible links, yet to the 
student of only a part, is, as it were interrupted here and 
there by sudden breaks, origins of fresh series, from whence 
again the chain goes on. The bird before us, with its ‘hues 
like these,’ is an instance and example of this. 
This most singularly elegant bird, the silky texture of 
whose plumage resembles that of the Jays, is distributed 
throughout the more northern division of Europe, the ele- 
vated regions of Asia, where, according to some, it breeds, 
and North America. It is found in the Arctic regions, 
Russia, Sweden, Poland, Bohemia, Silesia, Germany, Switzer- 
land, and France. It is said to be very delicious food, and 
is accordingly caught for the table in those countries in 
which it is plentiful, being imbued with a delicate bitter 
taste; doubtless, like the Grouse, from the nature of the 
food on which it subsists. 
Until lately the Waxwing, so called from the red wax-like 
tips to some of the feathers of its wings, was considered a 
rare bird in this country. ‘In the winter of 1810,’ says Selby, 
‘large flocks were dispersed through various parts of the 
kingdom, and from that period it does not seem to have 
visited our island till the month of February, 1822, when 
