THE WAXWING 1G1 



in doing. Mr. Dresser found a small colony of waxwings in an island 

 in the Baltic, near Uleiiborg, which prior information would have led 

 any one to suppose was beyond the breeding range of the species, and 

 with his own hands took a nest, an egg, and two young birds." 



In 1859 the waxwing again bred in the Muonioniska and Kittila 

 districts, but not so numerously, and again in 1860. Indeed, it would 

 appear that this area is the normal breeding-ground of the species, 

 through in some years it is more abundant than others, for nests and 

 eggs, since the memorable year 1860, have constantly been found here. 

 The breeding area, however, is by no means confined to Lapland ; for 

 nests have been taken in Scandinavia, Finland, and elsewhere. It 

 would seem indeed to breed more or less constantly in the pine regions 

 of the Old and New Worlds. In Canada, even as far south as lat. 51, 

 at least occasionally. 1 



This then is the zone which forms the nidus for the invading 

 hosts of the " Bohemian " waxwing, as it has well been called. We 

 are now to attempt to answer our second question What causes the 

 erratic migrations which from time to time attracts so much atten- 

 tion? In the first place it is necessary to remember that the 

 waxwing is normally, and of necessity, a migrant, and even in the 

 matter of its breeding station is perforce, inconstant. Feeding in 

 part on insects during the summer but largely on berries, inclement 

 seasons in an inclement zone not seldom make the breeding-place of 

 one year impossible in another, and this much will already have been 

 gleaned. But under more favourable circumstances wintering in the 

 high north is impossible, and accordingly a general exodus southwards 

 is an annual event. Bad summers in these southern areas Central 

 Asia, North China, Japan and the consequent shortage of food in 

 winter, drive these birds east and west, according to the breeding 

 area, and at the same time yet further southwards. But bad summers 

 may be only one of two causes for these unusual movements, and 

 the second may be due to over-population, which might well make for 



1 See the "Classified Notes," under Distribution. 

 VOL. II. X 



