256 VERTEBRATES. 



locality of the nests, and are probably placed there for food ; cer- 

 tainly not, as some authors have stated, for the purpose of decoying 

 other birds to the spot in order to murder and devour them. The 

 nest and eggs much resemble those of the Crreat Shrike, but are 

 smaller. The length of the bird is seven inches and a half. 



The Bohemian Waxwing, or Waxen Chatterer, occasion- 

 ally seen in England during severe frosts, at which time flocks of 

 them sometimes arrive, is very common in Norway and Russia, 

 and plentiful in North America. The name of Waxwing is given 

 to it from the singular appendages to the secondary quill feathers, 

 bearing much resemblance to a drop of red sealing-wax pressed on 

 the wing. 



Berries of all kinds, especially those of the dog-rose and the 

 hawthorn, form the principal food of this bird, but it is related 

 that when in captivity it rejects scarcely any vegetable substance, 

 losing at the same time all its vivacity and social habits. The 

 note of the Waxwing is nojt unlike that of the thrush, but it is 

 very weak and more uncertain than the notes of that beautiful 

 songster. While singing it agitates the crest on its head, but 

 shows scarcely any of that swelling in the throat so perceptible in 

 the canary and other singing birds. 



THE SLENDER-BILLED FERCHERS. 



The Lapwing, or Hoopoe, has the beak arcuated, convex, 

 and something blunt; the tongue is triangular, entire, and very 

 short, and the feet are fitted for walking. There are ten species, 

 of which the Hoopoe is one. It is vulgarly, yet correctly called 

 the dung-bird. It is a most polluted bird, exceeded by none in 

 this respect. It feeds on insects and maggots, which it picks out 

 of ordure of all kinds, and satiates its filthy appetite on hiiman 

 excrement. It delights to build its nest in situations the most 

 ofi'cnsive, and gives preference to putrid carcases as its most de- 

 lightful abode. There is no creature among the irrational tribes 

 whose habits are more opposed to its external appearance. There 

 are few birdf> to equal it in loveliness, none to equal it in abomi- 

 nable habits It has upon its head a beautiful crest, which it can 



