84 THE WAXWING. 



adult individuals, and it is probably only very old 

 birds indeed which have these appendages on the 

 tail-feathers, as well as on the wings. 



The Waxwing is a circum-polar species, and is 

 found in the pine regions of the Arctic circle, 

 both in the Old World and in North America, 

 but it has not been found breeding in the latter 

 country excepting in Alaska, though it doubt- 

 less has a more extended breeding-range in North 

 America than is generally supposed. Its move- 

 ments, even in the nesting season^ seem to be 

 somewhat uncertain, as it will make its 

 appearance in a certain locality in some 

 numbers, and then is not seen again for some 

 seasons. In the same way, its winter migrations 

 are very irregular, and but five instances of its 

 visiting Great Britain, in large numbers, have 

 been recorded during the present century. The 

 Waxwing is to be seen in our markets nearly 

 every winter, but the birds which are thus exposed 

 for sale come from Russia, where numbers are 

 captured for the table every year. In the autumn 

 and winter the food of the bird consists of 

 berries, and they then become very fat, and are 

 esteemed a delicacy. In summer they subsist 



