PASSERES — LANIID^ 165 



the bird does reach our northern border sometimes still, 

 but is not distinguished from the Cedar Waxwing. Ob- 

 servers should be on the watch during our cold weather, 

 and especially be suspicious of any Waxwing which appears 

 during such severe cold. 



Dr. Kirtland states that these birds were "attracted by the 

 berries of the mountain ash and hawthorn, and the fruit of 

 the persimmon." 



227. (619.) Ampelis cedrorum (Vieill.). 75. 

 Cedar Waxwing. 



Synonyms: Bombycilla carolinensis, B. cedrorum. 



Cherry Bird, Cedar Bird, Carolina Waxwing, Southern Wax- 

 wing, Little Waxwing, Carolina Chatterer, Spider-bird. 

 Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 162. 



This is a somewhat irregular species, but may be consid- 

 ered a common resident over the entire state. However, i-t 

 is sometimes scarce or wholly wanting from some localities 

 and abundant at others during the same time. It is gener- 

 ally seen in flocks even during the nesting season. 



Its food consists of 13 per cent, animal and 87 vegetable 

 matter. A few snails are eaten, but the bulk of the animal 

 matter consists of beetles, with a few bark and plant lice. 

 The vegetable matter is 87 per cent, wild fruit and seeds and 

 only 13 per cent, cultivated fruits, with the probability that 

 a large part of the raspberries and blackberries are also wild 

 fruit. Early cherries are scarcely touched. At any time 

 the Cherry-bird prefers mulberries to cherries. A single 

 bearing mulberry-tree has saved a whole orchard of cherries. 

 A Cherry-bird was brought to me which had killed itself by- 

 eating too many ripe mulberries. Taken the year through 

 this bird is far more useful than harmful and should be pro- 

 tected. 



Family Laniid^. Shrikes, 



The name "Butcher-bird" was applied to members of this 

 family because of their habit of impaling their victims upon 

 thorns. It was long supposed that they gloated over the 



