Bohemian Waxwing. 175 



for, on the contrary, it is a remarkably silent bird ; but it was so 

 called from its likeness to that notorious chatterer, the Jay, 

 (Garrulus glandarius). For the same reason it is known in 

 France as Grand Jaseur, ' Great Chatterer.' But in Sweden and 

 Germany, where it is better known, it derives its name from the 

 red, horny, or parchment-like appendages the existence of 

 which, so says Lloyd, seems to have been somewhat overlooked 

 by English naturalists but which, as the bird advances in years, 

 make their appearance at the extremity of the yellow at the end 

 of the tail-feathers ; and these increase annually in size and 

 number. It is only, continues Lloyd, when these red excres- 

 cences are fully developed that the Waxwing can lay claim to 

 its present pretensions that of being the most beautiful of all 

 Scandinavian birds. Hence the generic name Bombycilla, 

 * silky tail,' and the Swedish Siden svans, and the German 

 Seidenschivanz. Its natural food appears to be the berries of 

 the hawthorn, juniper, and mountain-ash; and it usually asso- 

 ciates in flocks. I was told in Norway that this bird visits that 

 country also at irregular periods, many years sometimes elapsing 

 between its visits. It was as abundant throughout Scandinavia 

 in 1850 as it was here. I have many notices of its occurrence 

 in this county. The Rev. G. Marsh has seen it in the woods at 

 Winterslow, and stated that a pair were killed in Clarendon Park 

 in 1820. Mr. Withers told me that many were killed at Potterne 

 in 1850. The Rev. H. Hare, of Bradford, sent me notice of one 

 killed in his field December 7th, 1857, while engaged in picking 

 hawberries from a hedge. Colonel Ward saw one in his garden 

 at Castle House, Calne, in the month of February, about 1865. 

 The late Mr. Butler, of Kennett, a very careful observer of birds, 

 told me he had seen a party of five or six of this beautiful 

 species in some trees in his neighbourhood about I860. The. 

 Rev. A. P. Morres records one shot by Mr. Fussle at Corsley x 

 about two miles from Warminster, and brought to Mr. King, of 

 that town, for preservation about forty years ago ; and the Marl- 

 borough College Reports speak of one observed at Draycot in 

 1864. 



