AMPELIS CEDRORUM — CEDAR BIRD. 277 



They are said to feed occasionally on insects, but the great 

 bulk of their food consists of berries, arid generally of sorts 

 not remarkable for line llavor. 



This bird cannot be considered injurious to the farmer or 

 gardener, as it appears at a season when all cultivated fruits 

 are gone. We are not aware that it ever eats grain of any 

 kind. It is valuable to us from its beauty, enlivening our 

 grounds during the drear winter months when our summer 

 friends have all left for the warmer lands of the South, and 

 we need not grudge the mountain ash and other berries that 

 it feeds upon, all being without any real value to us. 



The general color is brownish ash with a reddish tinge on 

 the back and breast, paler on the abdomen and rump; 

 brownish orange on the forehead, sides of the head and 

 under tail coverts. Chin and throat black, with a black 

 frontal line from the upper part of the bill across the eye 

 and extending toward the back of the head. Quills black- 

 ish; tips of the secondaries white, and a spot of the same 

 color on the outer web of all the primaries, forming two 

 bars when the wing is closed. A red sealing wax-like orna- 

 ment on the tips of the secondaries. Tail black, tipped with 

 bright yellow. 



Length about 7| inches; tail 3. 



Specimens in the Museum of the Cleveland Academy of 

 Natural Science, and in the private collection of Prof. Kirt- 

 land. 



Ampelis Oedrorum, Baird. — Cedar Bird — Cherry Bird. 



Audubon's Birds of America, IV., pi. 245. 



A much commoner species than the last, and found with 

 us during the whole season. In June and July they commit 

 great havoc among the ripe cherries, on which they feed. 



