THE WAXWINGS 



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THE WAXWINGS 

 Family AMPELID^E 



The waxwings, together with the allied South- American family of the green- 

 lets ( Vireonidai} , are generally placed between the shrikes on the one hand, and 

 the thrushes and warblers on the other. Containing only five genera, with not 

 more than some nine species, they are characterized by a short and slightly -hooked 



BOHEMIAN WAXWING. 

 (One-half natural size. ) 



bill, broad at the gape, long wings, and short legs; their plumage is very soft and 

 silky. The waxwings are inhabitants of the northern half of both Hemispheres, 

 and form a single genus, Ampelis. The metatarsus is short; the feet are weak; 

 and the inner quills of the wings are tipped with curious red horny appendages 

 compared to pieces of sealing wax. The Bohemian wax wing inhabits the northern 

 parts of the Old and New Worlds; the Japanese waxwing breeds in Southeastern 

 Siberia, and winters in Japan, China, and Formosa; while a third species, the cedar 



