424 Birds of Colorado 
almost invariably along the vertical banks of streams, 
and are by no means so uniform or carefully constructed 
as those of the Bank-Swallow ; in fact Kingfishers’ and 
other holes are often made use of, and cavities and crevices 
in the masonry abutments of bridges. The nest cavity 
is loosely lined with grass and feathers. The eggs, 
usually four or five, are pure white, and measure about 
‘70 x 50. 
Family BOMBYCILLIDA. 
Bill rather short, broad and flat, slightly hooked 
and notched at the tip; head conspicuously crested ; 
nasal fosse and nostrils almost concealed by the mass 
of forwardly-growing, dense, soft loral feathers; rictal 
bristles obsolete ; wing of ten primaries, the outer (tenth) 
very minute, less than half the length of the primary 
coverts ; wing long and pointed, the eighth and ninth 
the longest of the primaries ; tail much shorter than the 
wing and slightly rounded; plumage soft and silky, 
with curious red, horny appendages attached to the inner 
. secondaries, and occasionally to other long feathers as 
well; sexes alike; young streaky. 
Following Ridgway, this family includes only the 
Waxwings of the genus Bombycilla, formerly known 
as Ampelis, which appear to be sufficiently distinct from 
the other genera containing the Silky Flycatchers, 
Phainopeplas, and Palm-Chats usually associated 
with them. 
Genus BOMBYCILLA. 
The characters of the genus are given with those of the family. 
Its range includes the temperate and subarctic portions of both the 
Old and New Worlds. 
A. Larger—wing over 4 ; under tail-coverts chestnut ; wing-feathers 
yellow or white tipped. B. garrula, p. 425. 
B. Smaller—wing under 4; under tail-coverts white ; wing-feathers 
without white or yellow tips. B. cedrorum, p. 426. 
