CEDAR-BIRD. 139 



lateral ridges of the Alleghany, to enjoy the fruit of the Vacci- 

 nium uliginosum, whortle-berries, which grow there in great 

 abundance; whole mountains, for many miles, being almost en- 

 tirely covered with them; and where in the month of August I 

 have myself found the Cedar-birds numerous. In October they 

 descend to the lower cultivated parts of the country, to feed on 

 the berries of the sour gum, and red cedar, of which last they 

 are immoderately fond; and thirty or forty may sometimes be 

 seen fluttering among the branches of one small cedar tree, 

 plucking off the berries. They are also found as far south as 

 Mexico, as appears from the accounts of Fernandez, Seba, and 

 others. * Fernandez saw them near Tetzeuco, and calls them 

 Coquantotl; says they delight to dwell in the mountainous 

 parts of the country; and that their flesh and song are both in- 

 different, t Most of our epicures here, are, however, of a dif- 

 ferent opinion, as to their palatableness; for in the fall, and be- 

 ginning of summer, when they become very fat, they are in 

 considerable esteem for the table; and great numbers are brought 

 to the market of Philadelphia, where they are sold from twelve 

 to twenty-five cents per dozen. During the whole winter and 

 spring they are occasionally seen; and about the twenty-fifth of 

 May appear in numerous parties, making great havoc among 

 the early cherries, selecting the best and ripest of the fruit. 

 Nor are they easily intimidated by the presence of Mr. Scare- 

 crow; for I have seen a flock deliberately feasting on the fruit 

 of a loaded cherry tree, while on the same tree one of these 

 guardian angels, and a very formidable one too, stretched his 

 stiffened arms, and displayed his dangling legs, with all the 

 pomposity of authority ! At this time of the season most of our 

 resident birds, and many of our summer visitants, are sitting, 

 or have young; while even on the first of June, the eggs in the 

 ovary of the female Cedar-bird are no larger than mustard seed ; 



* The figure of this bird in Seba's voluminous work is too wretched for cri- 

 ticism; it is there called " Oiseau Xomotl d'Amerique huppee." Seb. II, p. 

 66, t. 65, fig. 5. 



f Hist. Av. Nov. Hisp. 55. 



