288 BOHEMIAN WAX-WING. 



at a loss to conceive why it should never have been observed on this 

 side of the Mississippi. 



Very little is known of the peculiar habits of this elegant bird. It 

 assembles in large flocks, and feeds on different kinds of juicy berries, 

 or on insects, which during summer constitute their principal food. In 

 common with many other birds, they are fond of the berries of the 

 mountain-ash and phytolacca, are extremely greedy of grapes, and also, 

 though in a less degree, of juniper and laurel-berries, apples, currants, 

 figs and other fruits. They drink often, dipping in their bill repeatedly. 

 Besides their social disposition, and general love of their species, these 

 birds appear susceptible of individual attachment, as if they felt a 

 particular sentiment of benevolence, even independent of reciprocal 

 sexual attraction. Not only do the male and female caress and feed 

 each other, but the same proofs of mutual kindness have been observed 

 between individuals of the same sex. This amiable disposition, so agree- 

 able for others, often becomes a serious disadvantage to its possessor. 

 Ft always supposes more sensibility than energy, more confidence than 

 penetration, more simplicity than prudence, and precipitates these as 

 well as nobler victims, into the snares prepared for them by more artful 

 and selfish beings. Hence they are stigmatized as stupid, and as they 

 keep generally close together, many are easily killed at once by a single 

 discharge of a gun. They always alight on trees, hopping awkwardly 

 on the ground. Their flight is very rapid : when taking wing, they 

 utter a note resembling the syllables zi, zi, ri, but are generally silent, 

 notwithstanding the name that has been given them. They are however 

 said to have a sweet and agreeable song in the time of breeding, though 

 at others it is a mere whistle. The place of breeding, as we have 

 intimated, is not known with any certainty, though they are said to 

 build in high northern latitudes, preferring mountainous districts, and 

 laying in the clefts of rocks, which however, judging from analogy, we 

 cannot believe. 



What can be the cause of their leaving their unknown abodes, of their 

 wide migrations, and extraordinary irruptions, it is very diflicult to de- 

 termine. That they are not compelled to them by cold is well proved. 

 Are they to be ascribed to necessity from excessive multiplication, as is 

 the case with the small quadrupeds called Lemmings, and even with 

 man himself in a savage state, or in over-populous countries ? or shall 

 we suppose that they are forced by local penury to seek elsewhere the 

 food they cannot be supplied with at home? Much light may be thrown 

 on the subject by carefully observing their habits and migrations in 

 America. 



The Bohemian Chatterer being so well known, we shall here only give 

 a description of our best American specimen, which is a female shot on 



