324 WAXWINGS. 



tail-coverts, wings, and tail gray ; secondaries, and sometimes tail, -with small, 

 red, seed-shaped, sealing-wax-like tips ; tail with a yellow band at its end ; 

 breast like the back, changing gradually into yellowish on the belly; under 

 toil-coverts white. L., 7-19 ; W., 3-70 ; T., 2-37 ; B. from N., -26. 



Range. — North America ; breeds from Virginia and the highlands of 

 South Carolina north to Labrador; winters from the northern United States 

 to Central America. 



Washington, very common P. E., less so in winter. Sing Sing, common 

 P. K. Cambridge, not common P. E., common S. li., abundant T. V. in spring, 

 Feb. 1 to Apl. 25. 



Nest., bulky, of strips of bark, leaves, grasses, twigs, rootlets, moss, and 

 sometimes mud, lined with finer materials of the same nature, in fruit or 

 shade trees, five to twenty feet up. Eggs., three to five, pale bluish gray or 

 putty color, distinctly and obscurely spotted with black or umber, '88 x -62. 



When the spring migration is over and the home birds have gone 

 to nest-building, small flocks of Goldfiuehes and Waxwings — two 

 peculiarly gentle, attractive birds — may still be seen wandering about 

 the country. The squads of Cedar-birds fly evenly, on a level with the 

 tree tops, in close ranks, often of five, seven, or nine. Frequently, 

 when under full headway, they suddenly wheel and dive down to an 

 apple tree for a meal of canker worms. 



In following the beautiful Waxwings about one listens in vain for 

 a song, but soon comes to relish their two peculiar calls — a hushed 

 whistle and the subdued call Thoreau describes as their " beady note," 

 a succession of short notes strung together — ^for they both seem to 

 harmonize with the quiet reserve of the delicately tinted birds. 



In July, when the wandering flocks are no longer seen, a walk 

 through the neighboring orchards may show where both tardy build- 

 ers have at last gone to nesting, and few bird homes afford pictures of 

 such human tenderness and devotion. If there is an evergreen in the 

 vicinity, the Cedar-bird mounts guard upon its tip, but occasionally 

 relieves the monotony of his watch by flying up in the air for light 

 luncheons of passing insects. 



The strong individuality of the Waxwings make them interesting 

 birds to the field student. The use of their crests in expressing emo- 

 tion, and the protective attitudes they assume when watched at their 

 nests, throw much light upon bird psychology. 



To the bird-lover, however, the Cedar-birds have their own attrac- 

 tion ; their proverbially gentle, refined ways make them seem superior 

 creatures of the air to whom he can but yield his affection. 



I shall never forget a pair that I once found by a clear mountain 

 lake. They were perched upon two evergreen spires that guarded a 

 silent bay, whose dark water was gilded by the lingering light of the 

 setting sun. Florence A. Merkiam. 



