174 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 10-No. 11 



fore me, the set of four is somewbat larger than 

 any of the five sets, measuring : Sets of four, 

 1.53x1.35; 1.50x1.38; 1.55x1.31; 1.53x1.27. Set 

 of tliree, 1.45x1.20; 1.40x1.23; 1.43x1.33. The 

 above being Screech Owls. The following Cali- 

 fornia Mottled Owl, measuring: Set B, of three, 

 1.44x1.18; 1.43.\1.20; 1,38x1.20. Set S, three, 

 1.43x1.31; 1.40x1.16; 1.43x1.16. Set E, three, 

 1.37x1.20; 1.38.X1.23; 1.43x1.10. All ,nrc of the 

 same glossy, crystal white pcculini- to the OwFs 

 eggs. 



I give here a record of my lirst sets for eacli 

 season, during six years: March 18th, 1880 ; April 

 34th, 1881; April 11th, 1882; March 34th, 1883; 

 May 13th, 1884; April 13th, 1885. It will be 

 seen that the year 1884 was later than the rest, 

 the Spring being very wet all the hollows in the 

 trees were filled with water. 



I found one the past Spring that had taken up 

 quarters in an old wood rat's nest placed on a 

 limb of a Bay tree, some thirty feet from the 

 ground. A large mass of dead leaves from the 

 tree had been put together, and a hollow for)ned 

 in the centre, lined with feathers of fowls and 

 Ijirds. 



I took a young Mottled Owl from some boys 

 two years ago, and put it in ni}' greenhouse with 

 a young Sparrow Hawk. They seemed to get on 

 well together except in feeding, when the 3'oung 

 Hawk wanted all the attention. When he got his 

 portion ho would take it in his claws, fly down in 

 a corner on the long table, and spreal his wings 

 as though to hide his food. The Owlet would 

 snap at his meat when a piece was held up to 

 him, make a grab, shut his eyes and swallow it 

 down with great satisfaction. The hot weather 

 was too much for them in the hot house, with all 

 the windows out, and I found them both l.iid out 

 one afternoon. 



"The Cedar Bird." 



(AiitpdiK ceclrorinii, VicHlni.) Orni/. 



liY FRANK R. RATHBUN. 



This bird belongs to the family of Wax- 

 wings, of which we have but two examples 

 on this continent, the other being the Bohemian 

 Waxwing or Chatterer, a somewhat larger bird, 

 but strikingly similar in many respects. The 

 Cedar Bird is a true tramp, breeding anywhere in 

 his peculiar lazy way, and roaming from Florida 

 to the Red River country. He is not, however, 

 one of the diffident and solitary kind, but of a 

 social cast, and may nearly always be seen con- 

 sorting with members of his own kind. When- 

 ever his " dreary whisper," his " wheezy" whistle 

 is heard, a superficial search will almost invaria- 



bly find an encampment of the brotherhood. We 

 have called him a true tramp, but we might qual- 

 ify this statement somewhat by dubbing him a 

 tramp of the gypsy clan, so nomadic and erratic 

 are his movements and visitations. The heat of 

 Summer and Winter's rigor have no depressing 

 influence upon this indomitable bird. His char- 

 acteristic fearlessness and independence is stamped 

 upon his features, and evidenced in his striking 

 profile. His sinister aspect, due to its peculiar 

 markings, has always seemed to me to be sur- 

 roimded with an eerie halo, with an atmosphere 

 suggestiveof the weird which is inexplicable. The 

 sun neither incites nor delays his wooings, for 

 sometimes the first young of the year are not 

 seen until the month of August. In tact, he 

 seems to take so much pleasure in his gregarious 

 habits as to be unmindful of his domestic affairs. 



The Cedar Bird is known and recognized a.s 

 the Carolina Waxwing and the Cedar Waxwing. 

 He also has such local names a.s^ the " Ring-tall" 

 and the " Wax-bird," but is universally known in 

 the north as the " Cherry Bird." Tlic first name 

 has been given him from the yellow color which 

 tips the ends of his tail feathers; the second, from 

 the peculiar red and horny appendages of his in- 

 ner wing quills which much resemble red sealing 

 wax ; and the latter, for his love for " cherry- 

 ripe," so tantalizing to the horticulturist. 



This bird is of a very social, amiable, and very 

 affectionate disposition. 1 had the good fortune 

 to become Intimately acquainted with a paii- ol 

 them the past season. They had selected for 

 their nesting place the bough of a soft Maple 

 tree, some twelve or fifteen feet from the ground. 

 The tree stood close to the sidewalk of the street, 

 and Immediately in front of my gate. From my 

 breakfast table I could e:isily watch their labors. 

 The situation was very public and the street a 

 familiar thoroughfare of the boys and girls as 

 they went to and from the public school. The 

 birds had but one object In view, apparently, 

 and that to build, brood and bring up. I often 

 stood immediately beneath the scene of their toil, 

 without for a moment inspiring fear or interrupt- 

 ing their labors. That they saw me was evident, 

 for as they came to the spot alternately with ma- 

 terials, they would pause for an Instant and peer 

 at nie with their .gypsy eyes from beneath their 

 sable frontlets, and seemingly satisfied that it was 

 Old// me, proceed with their work of construction. 

 I could but fancy they knew me and sought my 

 protection, so trustful did they seem. AVhen the 

 female began to incubate her Ilege seemed very 

 attentive and kind, bringing food and occasionally 

 cheering her labors with a low whisper. Their 

 bliss, however, was interrupted after a few da^'s. 



