Bohemian Waxwing 69 



only at a short distance, is about the only sound they ever 

 utter. When the cherries are ripe the Cedar-birds often 

 display considerable animation as they pluck the juicy fruit 

 from the stem, but in the intermediate seasons they have a 

 peculiar way of wheeling about in flocks, suddenly alighting 

 on the bare branches of a tree and sitting motionless. The 

 perfect order in which they always keep their plain but rich 

 plumage and their erect attitude gives them a handsome and 

 distinguished appearance. The nest is not built until toward 

 the last of June or along the first week of July. It is generally 

 in an orchard on a fruit-tree limb. 



Eggs, four or five, much elongated, spotted with dark 

 brown or black on light bluish-slate ground. 



Bohemian Waxwing. — Ampelis garrulus. 8.00 



Rare and Irregular Visitant 



Field marks. — Almost entire plumage rich grayish-brown, 

 slightly darker on back and wing coverts, and so fine 

 and smooth as to give a waxen appearance; wings 

 bluish-black, regularly flecked with white and yellow; 

 ends of secondaries tipped with scarlet, seed-like 

 appendages; feathers of crown reddish-chestnut and 

 comparatively long, forming a conspicuous crest; fore- 

 head, line over eye, and auriculars black; chin lustrous 

 black; under tail-coverts bright chestnut; tail feathers 

 ripped with yellow, forming a band. 



The above description is from a skin in my possession, 

 which was taken by a friend in Wyoming, December 9, 1 900. 

 Two years later the same friend took two in Saratoga 



