THE WAXWING. 281 



ti]i of tail. Bill tlattish, wide at base, slightly notched at tip. 

 Xostrils almost covered Avith short, somewhat stifif feathers, a few 

 fine, very short, rictal bristles. Tarsal joint feathered. 



Soft parts. — Bill black, flesh at base ; legs and feet black ; 

 iris dark brown. 



Chaeacters and allied species. — No subspecies. A. cpdrorum 

 (temperate North America) is smaller and has no white and yellow 

 on Aving-feathers. .4. japonka (south-east Siberia, Japan) has 

 red tips to tail, primaries a,nd greater wing-coverts. 



Field -characters. — Its confiding habits allow a close approach 

 Avhen it is feeding on berries in Avinter, and conspiciious crest, 

 general brown colouring and lemon -yelloAv tips to tail combined 

 Avith black chin and Avhite bar on Avings are unmistakable. The 

 deep sienna- broAvn under tail-coverts are also noticeable from 

 beloAv (F.C.R.J.). 



Breeding-habits. -Usualty in coniferous forest, but sometimes 

 also in birch woods and generally in rather open spaces, Avith young 

 trees. Nest. — Built of spruce tAvigs, lichens [TJsnea) and a little 

 grass. Sometimes a little hair or doA\ai or a fcAV feathers in lining. 

 Eggs. — 4 to 6 : once 7, ashy-grey or ashy-bine in gi'omid-colour, 

 sometimes A^ery light, Avith distinct black or blackish-broAvn spots 

 and grey shell-marks. AA^erage of 100 eggs. 24 ■ 17.3 mm. 

 Breeding -season. — Apparently from second Aveek of June onward 

 to nearly end of month in Lapland. Incubation. — No information. 



Food. — In British Isles in AA'inter, food consists of berries, hips of 

 dog-rose, berries of moinitain-ash, haAvthorn, privet, yew and holly, 

 also buds of ash. Insects (chiefly diptera and also ephemeridje 

 and phryganeidae) are also eaten in summer : and berries of Empetrum 

 nigrum, Vaccinium uliginosiim, etc., have been found in young. 

 Distribution. — Great Britain. — Irregular Aisitor from Oct. to 

 March, but generally in Avinter-months, \^ery occasionally April, 

 very rarely May, and tAvice Jiily (Yorks.). Sometimes occurs in 

 considerable numbers, as in Avinters 1686, 1834-5, 1849-50, 1866-7, 

 1872-3. 1892-3, 1903-4, and 1913-14. Most frequent on eastern 

 side. Has occurred in most counties but more rarely in Avest 

 England and Scotland, and still more rarely in Wales and north 

 Scotland (including Orkneys and Shetlands), and only three times 

 in O. Hebrides. Ireland. — Rare and irregular winter-Aasitor chiefly 

 in east and north. Occasionally in some numbers, as in 1903-4. 

 Distribution. — Abroad. — Arctic regions of eastern and western 

 hemispheres. In Europe, north Scandinavia, north Finland, and 

 north Russia. In Avinter farther south, regularlj^ as far as east 

 Prussia, rarely to Italy. 



[Note. — The example of the South African Bulbul (Pycnonotus 

 capensis, or one of its subspecies) shot near Waterford, Ireland, Jan., 18.S8, 

 had no doubt escaped from captivity (Yarrell, i, p. 247 : Saunders, p. 14'4) 1 



