566 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 

 136. CEDAR WAXWING; CHERRY BIRD; CEDARBIRD 



BOMBYCILLA CEDRORUM Vieillot 



Not usually much in evidence during the summer ; occasionally 

 seen during the winter; usually pretty abundant at times in au- 

 tumn; and often very abundant during the spring, at that season 

 moving in large flocks among the treetops apparently feeding 

 largely upon buds and perhaps to some extent on early insects. In 

 1901, on May 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, and 31, they were present in 

 large numbers among the trees west of the lake, the flocks ap- 

 parently consisting of between 200 and 300 birds, the treetops 

 being full of them and the notes weak and lisping from individual 

 birds were so continuous from the great number of birds present 

 that the united effect was conspicuous enough to attract even the 

 most inattentive, and was by no means unmusical. It is, indeed, 

 this lisping whisper that usually attracts attention to the birds 

 when they travel about even in small flocks. The greater abund- 

 ance of these birds in spring and autumn seems to indicate that, 

 though a fair number are to be found the year round at the lake, 

 the greater number are migrants, moving through to the north- 

 ward in the spring and back to the south again in autumn. 



On their southward journey in autumn they are accompanied 

 by their young, which they are frequently observed feeding on 

 various wild fruits. In spite of their continuous large numbers, 

 they do not appear to be the birds which make the greatest raids 

 on the stores of wild autumn fruits such as grapes, Cornus ber- 

 ries, etc., which are to be found on the bushes, vines, and trees 

 about the lake ; their movements are rather too rapid. The glean- 

 ing is mostly done by the delaying robins and bluebirds, by the 

 passing thrushes and white-throated sparrows, and still more by 

 the remaining tree sparrows. 



The following are our autumn records : 



1899. October 18, several seen near Culver cemetery. 



1904. October 23, one noted on the east side; October 30, a 

 flock seen near the village of Maxinkuckee; December 24, a good 

 flock on a tree on Long Point, some seemed to be feeding on wild 

 grapes. On December 31, two flocks were seen down by the Tip- 

 pecanoe River. 



1906. September 8, one heard and seen at Culver; September 

 9, seen. September 14, an old one noted by Farrar's feeding her 

 clamoring young on wild grapes; on the same date a dead one was 

 picked up on shore, which was sent to the U. S. National Museum 

 (No. 08746). 



