142 WAXWING 



of expression, and when about the nest often as- 

 sume protective attitudes, drawing themselves up 

 to look like long-necked bottles or sticks of wood, 

 and sitting absolutely motionless till one would 

 imagine longer endurance impossible. Bird lit- 

 erature contains many anecdotes of their affec- 

 tion and phenomenal conjugal devotion. Doctor 

 Brewer tells of one which, when its mate was 

 entrapped, became so preoccupied with anxiety it 

 allowed itself to be taken in the hand, and when 

 set at liberty would not leave till its companion 

 was freed to go with it. In caring for the young, 

 the Waxwings show great watchfulness. They 

 feed by regurgitation. 



Their food has been much discussed. In some 

 places they are known as Cherry-birds, but culti- 

 vated cherries have been found in only 9 out of 

 152 stomachs examined, which, as Professor Beal 

 says, "hardly justifies the reputation which the 

 bird has gained as a destroyer of cherries." He 

 adds that this supposed cherry habit, " to the care- 

 less and unobservant, would condemn the bird to 

 destruction, but the closer observer looks further." 

 Investigation shows that more than half of the 

 whole food of the Cedar-bird consists of wild 

 fruit which has no value, and that one eighth of 

 its food consists of insects, among which are some 

 of the worst pests of the country. Furthermore, 

 since the nestlings are fed largely on insects, the 

 greatest number of insects are eaten when fruit 



