SONG BIRDS OF ORCHARD AND WOODLAND. 209 



WAXWINGS. 



These beautiful but inconspicuous birds are noted for the 

 peculiar appendage which in many specimens adorns the tip 

 of each secondary quill, and is sometimes found on the tip 

 of each tail feather also. These waxy appendages seem to 

 be ornamental rather than useful. They resemble sealing 

 wax, hence the name Waxwing. The Bohemian Wax wing, 

 a northern species, is a rare winter visitor to Massachusetts. 

 The Cedar Waxwing is the only other species found in 

 America. 



Cedar Waxwing. Cedar Bird. Cherry Bird. 

 Ampelis cedrorum. 



Length. About seven and a quarter inches. 



Adult. Head long-crested; chin, forehead, space around eye, and line above it 

 black; general color rich grayish or pinkish brown, with tints of reddish- 

 olive and purplish-cinnamon, changing on the after parts into ashy above 

 and yellow and white below ; wings and tail gray ; tail tipped with yellow. 



Nest. Bulky ; from six to fifteen feet up in an orchard or shade tree ; composed 

 of weeds, grass, roots, bark, leaves and twigs. 



Eggs. Light bluish, marked with black and indistinct bluish spots. 



Season. Resident. 



This common bird, so richly endowed with beauty and 

 grace, is no songster. Its charm consists in its elegant shape 

 and its softness of plumage, with its 

 insensible changes from one lovely 

 tint to another. It moves about in 

 silence, save as it utters a lisping, 

 " beady " note or a " hushed whistle." 

 Mr. Nehrling says that both male 

 and female sing. I cannot doubt 

 that he has heard this song, but 

 from my own experience I am 

 led to believe that it is rare in 

 Massachusetts. 



The Cedar Bird gets its name 

 from its habit of feeding on cedar 

 berries in fall and winter. It often may be found on some 

 parts of Cape Cod during the colder months. It is some- 

 times seen in other parts of the State in winter, and is at- 



Fig. 74. Cedar Bird, one-half 

 natural size. 



