OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 261 



The Ontario records are mostly of small flocks which 

 occasionally visit us during the winter, and feed on the berries 

 of the red cedar or the mountain ash. Sometimes they move 

 by themselves, and sometimes in company with the Pine Gros- 

 beaks ; the Wax wings taking the pulpy part of the berries and 

 the Grosbeaks preferring the hard seeds. The nest of this 

 species was found by Mr. Kennicott on the Yukon, and by Mr. 

 McFarlane on the Anderson River, but when we read the 

 accounts of the vast flocks which have been seen by travellers 

 we have to admit that it is little we know of their summer 

 haunts and homes. 



240. AMPELIS CEDRORUM (Vieill.). 619. 

 Cedar Waxwing. 



General color as in ^fl;'r«/Ms. Under tail-coverts whitish ; little orno orange- 

 brown about head ; no white on wings ; chin black, shading gradually into 

 the color of the throat ; a black frontal, loral and transocular stripe as in 

 garrulus, but this bordered on the forehead with whitish ; a white touch on 

 lower eyelid ; feathers on side of lower jaw white ; abdomen soiled yellowish ; 

 tail tipped with yellow. Length, 7-7J ; wing, about 3! . 



Hab. North America at large, from the Fur Countries southward. In 

 winter south to Guatemala and the West Indies. 



Nest, large, built in the orchard or in a low tree in the bush ; composed 

 of twigs, bark, leaves, rootlets, etc., lined with fine grass, hair or wool. 



Eggs, 4 to 6 ; pale blue, spotted and blotched with brownish-black. 



The Cedar Bird is generally distributed throughout Ontario. 

 It is a resident species, being here both in summer and winter, and 

 yet it is so uncertain in its movements that its presence at a 

 particular point at a given time cannot be counted upon with any 

 degree of certainty. They do not begin housekeeping until 

 quite late in the season, and may be seen visiting the orchard in 

 flocks up to the end of May. At this season their food consists 

 chiefly of insects, some kinds of which they cleverly capture on 

 the wing. They are also accredited with the destruction of large 

 numbers of canker worms and other noxious insects. As the 

 season advances they show a great liking for fruit, especially 

 cherries, with which they often cram themselves till they can 

 hardly maintain their balance on the branches. In the fall and 



