460 General Notes [j$ 



the birds several other flocks of varying numbers also appeared and joined 

 the first, thus making a large one of nearly two thousand individuals, 

 this estimate being based on as careful a count as could be made. The 

 majority of the birds occupied the tops of three trees adjacent to each 

 other from which many flew to small mountain ash trees close by to feed 

 upon the berries, the remainder of the flock being perched on the tele- 

 phone wires in the vicinity. There was a continual 'milling' going on 

 in the flock, the individuals being constantly in motion, this activity 

 being accompanied by their lisping notes. 



"Near the base of the largest of the trees grew a tall decorative rose 

 bush close to the edge of a retaining wall at the side of the street walk. 

 This wall was about five feet in height, and as the bush had many hips 

 numbers of the birds attempted to alight therein to feed, but its branches 

 being too weak to sustain them would continually give way, and this 

 in turn caused a constant commotion, for it kept the birds fluttering and 

 interfering with each other and also dislodged many hips which fell to 

 the walk beneath to be eaten by the birds alighting thereon. 



"The appearance of this proceeding reminded one of a swarm of bees 

 and the feeding birds were so engrossed as to be almost oblivious of our 

 presence as we stood within a few feet of them. 



"Several times the flock took wing and circled above the trees, then 

 returned to scatter about — some in the bushes, some on the phone wires, 

 but the greater number gathered in the tops of the trees and no 

 matter how engaged or whether or not on the wing they did not cease 

 their notes. Finally being disturbed all arose in a body, made a wide 

 swing or two and breaking up into several small flocks left the locality." 



Flocks of Bohemian Waxwings continued to be seen in this vicinity 

 during January and the early part of February, after which their numbers 

 rapidly diminished and they were less frequently seen. Our last record 

 is March 1, when a few birds were noted by Mr. C. J. Albrecht in the 

 northern part of the city. 



The species was also well distributed throughout this region, for we 

 have records of its appearance from as far to the north as Prevost, on 

 one of the San Juan group of islands north of the eastern extremity of 

 the Strait, this being given us by Mr. D. E. Brown, of Seattle, to as far 

 south as Olympia, and it is a fair assumption that the movement must 

 have been of quite wide extent. — S. F. Rathbun, Seattle, Wash. 



Bohemian Waxwing at Salem, Mo. — January 1, 1918, a bunch 

 of about ten of these birds were seen in an apple tree near my home, in 

 Salem, feeding on the withered apples still on the tree. They were very 

 tame and unsuspicious, and one could come within ten feet of them as 

 they fed, without disturbing them. Their lisping notes and their method 

 of flight were like the Cedar Waxwing. They were, however, appreciably 

 larger; the black stripe along the eye, the black spot on the throat, the 



