>-28 CEDAR BIRD. 



dozens may be killed at a single shot ; but if this opportunity is lost, 

 the next moment after they alight, the whole group is in motion, dispers- 

 ino- over every bough to pick the berries which attracted them from the 

 air. Their crest is now erected, their wings are seen constantly moving, 

 and so eagerly do they grasp at the berries that they suffer many of them 

 to fall. Every flock passing within hearing is invited to join in the 

 feast, and in a few hours the tree is entirely stripped of its fruit. In 

 this manner they search the whole of the forests, and towards winter are 

 even satisfied with the berries of the Dog-wood. As the cherries and 

 mulberries ripen in the Middle Districts, the Cedar Bird pays them 

 frequent visits, and when these are out of season, the blackberries and 

 huckleberries have their turn. After this, the Cedars supply a new 

 and favourite food. I think the name of Fruit-dcvotirers would be more- 

 applicable to these birds than that of Chatterers, which they bear among 

 naturalists. 



They are excellent fly-catchers also, spending much of their time in 

 the pursuit of \vinged insects. This is by way of dessert, and is not ma- 

 naged with the vivacity or suddenness of true Fly-catchers, but with a 

 kind of listlessness. They start from the branches, and give chase to the 

 insects, ascending after them for a few yards, or move horizontally to- 

 wards them, perhaps rather farther than when ascending, and as soon as 

 the prey is secured, return to the spot, where they continue watching 

 with slow motions of the head. Towards evening, this amusement is 

 carried on for half an hour, or an hour at a time, and is continued 

 longer at the approach of autumn, the berries then becoming scarcer. 



These birds come from the north, but the furthest place from which 

 they have started I am unable to tell. They reach the Middle Districts 

 about the beginning of April, and begin to pair in the beginning of 

 June, when thousands of young birds of other species have already 

 left the nest. Their favourite place for their nest is generally the branch 

 of an Apple-tree in the Orchard, its horizontal direction being apparent- 

 ly best adapted for their taste, although here they are frequently very 

 insecure, the nest being seldom higher than ten feet from the ground, and 

 often so low as to be seen into. It is composed of coarse grasses exter- 

 nally, and is Uned with a finer kind. The female usually lays four eggs, 

 of a purplish white, marked with black spots, which are larger towards 

 the great end. The young are at first fed on insects, but after a week 

 the parents procure different kinds of fruits for them. The Cedar Bird 



