'^\)^ NOUTll AMHIIICAN-HIIJDS. 



on tlie Audcrsou Jtivcr, liy Mr. MiiclMirltme, Itotli of which, witli tliu feiimlt' 

 1 111 routs, an; in tlio iKisscssioii of t\w, Institution. Altii(iujj;li there i.s fru- 

 (lUiMitly considuriiblo dillurunue bowoen inilivichiiils, there appears to bu mu 

 iliircrcMco iietweon those from the two continents. 



llADirs. The Wa.xwin;; is, in many respects, one of tlio most interestinj,' 

 anil remarkahle of tlie hirtls of Xorth America. The rovini,' character of its 

 life, the mystery, still only imperfectly solveil, of its habits and residence 

 diirinj^ its breedin^f-season, and its somewhat cosmopolitan residence in Ku- 

 rojie, Asia, and America, impart to it an interest tiiat attaches to but few 

 otiier sjiecies. Thiiuj,'h not common in any portions of the Tnitcd States, 

 and only appearinj^ at all diirinj,' midwinter, yet in the more northern States, 

 in which it is occasionally found, it moves in such larj,'e Hocks, and is so 

 noticeable and con.spicnous a bird, that it never fails to make a lasting im- 

 pression, and hardly seems to us so very rare as it undoubtedly is. 



In a single instance, in midwinter, somowhtro about 1H44, duriu},' a severe 

 snow-storm, a hirge Hock of these birds made their ajijiearance in lloston, and 

 alighted on a large horse-chestnut tree that stood in an open and retired 

 place. There were at least twenty or thirty in the flock ; they remained in 

 thei>' shelter undisturbed for sume time, and their true specific character 

 was plainly noticeable. 



Several specimens were procured near Worcester, Mass., and given to Dr. 

 liryant. Eleven individuals of this species were shot in Bolton by Mr. S. 

 .Tillson, January, 1804, and others have since been noticed in Watertown by 

 Mr. William Drewster. They have also been obtained near Hartford, Conn., 

 by Dr. Wfiod. 



Prior to this, as ]\Ir. Audubon states, specimens had been procured near 

 riiiladeljihia, and in the winters of 1880 and 1832 several of these birds 

 were also shot on Long Island. 



Mr. Uoardman mentions that they are occasional, in winter, near Calais ; 

 and Professor Verrill, who did not meet with it in Norway, Me., cites it as 

 accidental and rare in the State. 



It is not common in the Arctic regions. Specimens of the bird were 

 obtained on Anderson Kiver, in 18()2, by Mr. MacFarlane, but he was not 

 able to find the nest. At Fort Yukon, July 4, Mr. Kennicott met with 

 tlie nest of this species. The nest, which contained but one egg, was about 

 eighteen feet from the ground, and was built on a side branch of a small 

 spruce that was growing at the outer edge of a clump of thick spruces, on 

 low ground. The nest was large, the base being made of small, dry sprnce 

 twigs. Internally it was constructed of fine gra.ss and moose-hair, and lined 

 thickly with large feathers. The female was shot, as she rose i'rom her nest, 

 by Mr. Kennicott's hunter, who had concealed himself near the spot for that 

 ])urpose. Mr. Kennicott had seen the nest and both parents near it before 

 it w as taken, and had thoroughly satisfied himself as to its complete identi- 

 fication. 



