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On the Waxwing.



The Waxwing has some structural affinities with the

Starlings, and it resembles the Rosy Pastor in being sociable

in the breeding season ; and, like that bird, its presence in any

particular district at nesting time is extremely uncertain and

cannot be counted upon. A colony of Rosy Pastors will follow a

horde of locusts, and breed amongst them. It may be that the

Waxwing’s selection of a locality to nest in is connected with its

food supply. Both young and adults feed largely in summer

upon insects—mayflies, craneflies, &c., as well as upon certain

berries.


That this species is a plentiful one can be assumed from

the fact that enormous quantities are sometimes brought into the

northern cities for food. We read of “thousands” exposed for

sale in the flower market of St. Petersburgh ; and of “ cartloads ,r

in the game market of Christiania in January, 1872. \_Cf, Dresser’s"

“ Birds of Europe.”]


The Waxwing is not in much favour in this country as a

subject for aviculture; chiefly, I think, because it has often been

kept under unsuitable conditions. It has been condemned as

being sluggish, greedy, and dirty ; but this is only true if the

bird is kept in a cage. In an aviary, not too much exposed to

the full sun, at any rate, where there are plenty of shady places,

where the bird can take refuge from the glare of an English mid¬

summer day ; with variety of perches, and yet with plenty of

space between to invite exercise, I think there can be no more

charming occupants of a garden aviary than a pair or two of

Waxwings. As might be expected, in this climate the bird can

be considered absolutely hardy, errors of diet excepted ; and this

question of diet need really present no difficulty. My experience

has taught me to discard all food of a farinaceous nature ; and I

feed my Waxwings upon “ Insect food,” as supplied by one of the

firms advertising in this magazine, with always plenty of currants,

either Zante or Sultana. When in season I hang up berried

sprays of hawthorn, privet, &c., and when breeding I gave my

birds yolk of egg (flakes) and mealworms witli discretion. But

the bird in captivity, it must be remembered,- is subject to fits

brought on by indigestion ; and too generous a diet is as mis¬

chievous as in the case of other (unfeathered) bipeds. I have-



