44 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



THE CEDAR-BIRD. 



BoMBYCILLA CAROLINENSI8. 

 PLATE XXVI. FIG. 56. 



(STATE COLLECTION. Male, female and yotjno). 



Amptlit amtricana. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 107, pi. 7, fig. 1. 



BombycMa carolmeruii. Bonaparte, Obs. No. 78 j Ann Lye. Vol. 2, p. 59. Adddbon, fol. pi. 43 ; Orn. Bio». 



Vol. 1, p. 227. Nottall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 248, figure. 

 B. americana. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 239. 

 B. rarolinmsis. Aodobon, B. of A. Vol. 4, p. 

 Cedar Waxmng, B. carolinensis. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 163. 



Characteristics. Brownish grey : crest slightly rufous ; frontlet, line over the eye, and 

 chin black. Belly yellow ; vent white. Wings blackish, unspotted. 

 Length, 7 or 8 inches. 



Description. A deep black line from the nostril, over the eye, to the hind head, bordered 

 above by a slender line of white. Chin black, gradually blending into greyish brown. Six 

 or seven, and sometimes all the secondaries furnished with a prolongation of their shafts, of 

 a vermilion color, and resembling sealingwax. Occasionally these appendages are seen on 

 the lail feathers, and sometimes individuals are found without them. Bill, legs and claws 

 black. Female, with its plumage duller, smaller crest, and narrower bar on the tail. 



Length, 7-0-8-0. 



This well known bird has various popular names. Those of Cedar-bird, and Cherry-bird, 

 are most common in this State. In Massachusetts, it is called Canada Rubin ; and by the 

 French Canadians, it is known under the name of Recollet, from the color of its crest re- 

 sembling the hood of that religious order. It is frequently called the Brown-bird. 



The Cedar-bird appears in flocks, and lives chiefly upon whortleberries ( V actinium fron- 

 dosum), cedar-berries (Juniperus virginiana, improperly called cedar in the Northern States), 

 persimmons (Diospyros virginiana), grapes and cherries. They are best known by their 

 fondness for cherries, which they devour with great avidity, and in large quantities. They 

 are not, however, exclusively frugivorous, but repay the comparatively unimportant injuries 

 which they inflict on man, by ridding trees of the small beetles, caterpillars and cankerworms 

 with which they, are infested. The eggs are usually four in number, white, tinged with 

 purple and spotted with black. 



The Cedar-bird is capable of braving a low temperature, and is frequently seen with us 

 during the whole winter. They range from the equator to the COlh degree of north latitude. 



