CEDAR BIRDS AND BERRIES 17 



chatterer — a stately waxwing larger than com- 

 mon and even more beautiful in hue, whose large 

 size and splashes of white upon its wings will 

 always mark it out. 



This bird is one of our rarest of rare visitors, 

 breeding in the far north ; and even in its nest and 

 eggs mystery enshrouds it. Up to fifty years ago, 

 absolutely nothing was known of its nesting 

 habits, although during migration Bohemian chat- 

 terers are common all over Europe. At last Lap- 

 land was found to be their home, and a nest has 

 been found in Alaska and several others in Labra- 

 dor. My only sight of these birds was of a pair 

 perched in an elm tree in East Orange, New Jer- 

 sey; but I will never forget it, and will never 

 cease to hope for another such red-letter day. 



The movements of the cedar waxwings are as 

 uncertain in summer as they are in winter; they 

 may be common in one locality for a year or two, 

 and then, apparently without reason, desert it. At 

 this season they feed on insects instead of berries, 

 and may be looked for in small flocks in orchard 

 or wood. The period of nesting is usually late, 

 and, in company with the goldfinches, they do not 

 begin their house-keeping until July and August. 

 Unlike other birds, waxwings will build their nests 

 of almost anything near at hand, and apparently 

 in any growth which takes their fancy, — apple, 

 oak, or cedar. The nests are well constructed, 

 however, and often, with their contents, add 



