3J)8 ' NnliTIl AMKUU'AN- IIIKDS. 



t»ii the AiidtTsoii Iliver, l»v Mr. McIcFmiIjuu*, Imth of which, with tht* tVinah* 

 j»areiits, are in tlu* p(>s.s(*ssi(»ii of tlie Institution. Altl»onj,'h thm* is fre- 

 (iUtMitly consiilerablu dilVerence hrwecn indivitluals, there appears to he no 

 dill'erence l»et\veen tliose from th«' two continents. 



ll.viurs. Thv' Waxwinji is, in many respects, one oi the most interesting^ 

 and remarkahle of the hirds of Xitrtii America. Tiie roving,' character of its 

 life, tlie mvsterv, still onlv impiMledlv solved, of its habits and residence 

 durini: its breed iiiLr-season, and its sonu'what cosmopolitan residence in Ku- 

 rope, Asia, and America, impart to it an interest that attaches to but few 

 other species. ThouLrh not common in any portions of the I'nited States, 

 and only a[»pearing at all durinLi midwinter, yet in the more northern States, 

 in which it is occasionally found, it moves in such larj^e Hocks, and is so 

 noticeable and conspicuous a bird, that it never fails to make a lastinjj; im- 

 pression, and hardly seems to us so very rare as it undoubtedly is. 



In a single instance, in midwinter, somewhere about 1844, during a severe 

 snow-storm, a large Hock of these birds made their aj)pearance in Ijoston, and 

 alighted on a large horse-chestnut tree that stood in au open and retired 

 place. There were at least twenty or thirty in the flock ; they remained in 

 their shtdter undisturbed for some time, and their true specific character 

 was plainly noticeable. 



Several specimens were procured near Worcester, Mass., and given to Dr. 

 Bryant. Eleven individuals of this species were shot in Bolton by ]\Ir. S. 

 Jillson, January, 18G4, and others have since l)een noticed in Watertown by 

 Mr. William lirewster. They have also been obtained near Hartford, Conn., 

 by Dr. Wood. 



Prior to this, as Mr. Audubon states, specimens had been procured near 

 rhiladelj)hia, and in the winters of 183U and 1832 several of these birds 

 were also shot on Long I.sland. 



Mr. Jioardman mentions that they are occasional, in winter, near Calais; 

 and Professor Verrill, who did not meet with it in Norway, Me., cites it as 

 accidental and nire in the State. 



It is not common in the Arctic regions. Specimens of the bird were 

 obtained on Anderson Piver, in 1SC^^2, by Mr. MacFarlane, but he was not 

 able to find the nest. At Fort Yukon, July 4, Mr. Kennicott met with 

 the nest of this species. The nest, which contained but one e^^^, was about 

 eighteen feet from the ground, and was built on a side branch of a small 

 spruce that was growing at the outer edge of a clump of thick spruces, on 

 low ground. The nest was large, the base being made of small, dry spruce 

 twigs. Internally it was constructed of fine grass and moose-hair, and lined 

 thickly with large feathers. The female was shot, as she rose from her nest, 

 by Mr. Kennicott's hunter, who had concealed himself near the spot for that 

 l)urpose. Mr. Kennicott had seen the nest and both parents near it before 

 it was taken, and had thoroughly satisfied himself as to its complete identi- 

 fication. - .-.,:-,- -.-■■- -'---r-'-.^ -,-„. ,:-•■■ ':---■• 



