44 
NEW-YORK FAUNA - BIRDS. 
THE CEDAR-BIRD. 
Bombycilla carolinensis. 
PLATE XXVI. FIG. 56. 
(STATE COLLECTION. Male, female and young). 
Ampelis americana. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 107, pi. 7, fig. 1. 
Bombycilla carolinensis. Bonaparte, Obs. No. 78; Ann Lyc. Vol. 2, p. 59. Audubon, fol. pi. 43; Ora. Biog. 
Vol. 1, p. 227. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 248, figure. 
B. americana. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 239. 
B. (arulinensis. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 4, p. 
Cedar Waxwing , B. carolinensis. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 163. 
Characteristics. Brownish grey : crest slightly rufous ; frontlet, line over the eye, and 
chin black. Belly yellow ; vent white. Wings blackish, unspotted. 
Length, 7 or 8 inches. 
Description. A deep black line from the nostril, over the eye, to the hind head, bordered 
above by a slender line of white. Chin black, gradually blending into greyish brown. Six 
or seven, and sometimes all the secondaries furnished with a prolongation of their shafts, of 
a vermilion color, and resembling sealingwax. Occasionally these appendages are seen on 
the tail-feathers, and sometimes individuals are found without them. Bill, legs and claws 
black. Female, with its plumage duller, smaller crest, and narrower bar on the tail. 
Length, 7*0 —8‘0. 
This weil known bird has various popular names. Those of Cedar-bird, and Clierry-bird, 
are most common in this State. In Massachusetts, it is called Canada Rubin ; and by the 
French Canadians, it is known under the name of Recollet, from the color of its crest re¬ 
sembling the hood of that religious order. It is frequently called the Brown-bird. 
The Cedar-bird appears in flocks, and lives chiefly upon whortleberries ( Vaccinium fron- 
dosum), cedar-berries ( Juniperus virginiana, improperly called cedar in the Northern States), 
persimmons ( Diospyros virginiana ), grapes and cherries. They are best known by their 
fondness for cherries, which they devour with great avidity, and in large quantities. They 
are not, however, exclusively frugivorous, but repay the comparatively unimportant injuries 
which they inflict on man, by ridding trees of the small beetles, caterpillars and cankerworms 
with which they are infested. The eggs are usually four in number, white, tinged with 
purple and spotted with black. 
The Cedar-bird is capable of braving a low temperature, and is frequently seen with us 
during the whole winter. They range from the equator to the hOth degree of north latitude. 
