Vol 'i909^ ' *] Anderson, Nesting of the Bohemian Waxwing. 11 



a large dragon-fly on the wing, in true flycatcher style, flying to 

 another tree to eat its prey. Three specimens were obtained, one 

 male and two females. The stomach of one bird was filled with the 

 small red ground berries. 



The next day, June 9, I passed over the road again on the way 

 to the White Pelican rookery at the Mountain Rapid, and saw 

 several Bohemian Waxwings, at intervals for a mile or two along 

 the "Brule," but did not have time to prosecute the search for 

 nests. 



June 10 in the afternoon I walked back again from Fort Smith 

 to the locality frequented by the Waxwings. The day was very 

 hot, and mosquitoes were not so numerous as on the two previous 

 days, but sandflies, black-flies, or tiny, stinging gnats were present 

 in swarms, and were very annoying, seriously interfering with 

 observations, as they persisted in flying into one's eyes. 



Several Bohemian Waxwings were found, near the same place 

 as before, sometimes perching on the topmost twig of a jack pine or 

 spruce, but usually among the upper branches. They were not in 

 flocks, but singly or in pairs, and I think about seven or eight 

 birds were in the vicinity, although an accurate count was impos- 

 sible, as the birds were very restless, and flew about a great deal. 



Again, I watched a waxwing fly from its perch, catch a large 

 dragon-fly on the wing, fly to another tree, and begin to devour the 

 insect at its leisure. I fired at this bird at rather close range with 

 dust shot, causing it to fly to another tree, still carrying the dragon- 

 fly. Here the bird finished its meal in peace. 



About two hours were spent searching for nests in the tall, scat- 

 tered jack-pines and spruces. Each tree had to be inspected 

 carefully from bottom to top, and I was often deceived by small 

 bunches of dead twigs, needles and moss which collect in all parts 

 of these trees. The lower branches particularly, bear great quanti- 

 ties of fine-fibred, pale tea-green moss, which often hangs in long 

 festoons closely resembling birds' nests. Several times I saw 

 waxwings flying rather anxiously about, but making no noise, 

 contrary to the usual habit of these birds. I finally shot one female, 

 whose under parts had lost many feathers, and whose actions showed 

 that her nest was undoubtedly near by. Soon I saw what appeared 

 to be a nest, a moss-covered bunch near the top of a straight, 



