Birds of Canada. 49 



They live in numerous flocks, keeping by pairs 

 'only in the breeding season. Their food con- 

 sists chiefly of the buds and seeds of the pine, 

 cedar, and juniper. Their migrations extend 

 from Central Asia to the Arctic regions. They 

 breed in the northern part of British Columbia 

 and Alaska. 



A. cedrorum. The Cedar Bird, or Cherry Bird. 



The Cedar Birds arrive here in flocks about 

 the second week in March. They generally 

 build their nests in orchard trees ; sometimes in 

 a cedar or other evergreen tree ; eggs, four or 

 five in number, of a light blue or clay-white 

 color, with a slight purple tint, with black spots. 

 Farmers manifest a great deal of ill-feeling 

 toward this bird, on account of its occasional 

 fondness for cherries and other small fruit. It 

 has, however, a much greater relish for cater- 

 pillars and the larvae of insects, of which it 

 destroys immense numbers, and thereby more 

 than compensates for the small quantity of 

 fruit it eats. The only note of the Cherry Bird 

 is twee-twee, uttered in a plaintive, soft manner. 

 The general color is reddish-olive above, passing 

 into yellow beneath ; the quills and tail, dark 

 plumbeous and dusky, tipped with yellow. The 

 plumage is very soft and delicate, and its tints 

 and shadings beautiful, 

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