WAXWINGS 26^ 



Island, a distance of 24 miles, leaving at 10 a. m. and return- 

 ing at 6 p. m. The birds, of course, followed the boat all the 

 way to feed their young. A nest examined on the boat, June 

 19, 1913, contained young. 



Food habits. — The food of the rough-winged swallow con- 

 sists principally of insects, with a few spiders. Flies com- 

 posed nearly one-third (32.89 per cent) of the total. Ants 

 and other Hymenoptera are extensively eaten, and bugs to a 

 lesser extent. Beetles amounted to nearly 15 per cent of the 

 food and included the cotton-boll weevil, alfalfa weevil, rice 

 weevils, and flea beetles. A few moths, caterpillars, dragon- 

 flies. Mayflies, and an occasional grasshopper make up the re- 

 mainder of this bird's food.* 



WAXWINGS: Family Bombycillidae. 



CEDAR WAXWING; CEDAR-BIRD; "SEAL:" 

 Bombycilla cedrorum Vieillot. 



State records. — The cedar waxwing, often called cedar-bird,, 

 is an irregular, though sometimes not uncommon, winter visi- 

 tant and often remains late in spring. McCormack records it 

 common at Leighton, where it arrives in small flocks from 

 October 1 to 15, and remains till May 25. Avery found it 

 common also at Greensboro, between October 9 and April 18. 

 Brown reports it of irregular occurrence in small flocks at 

 Coosada between January and April; and Saunders records 

 small flocks at Woodbine, May 7 to 17. Golsan and Holt record 

 it as a winter resident in Autauga and Montgomery Counties,- 

 remaining until June.f The birds were observed in flocks^ 

 numbering from 6 to 25 individuals, at Tuscaloosa, April 3; 

 Stinson, April 18 ; Muscle Shoals, April 25 ; Jasper, April 29 'r 

 Ardell, May 5; Auburn, May 7; and Seale, May 20 (1914). 



General habits. — Although destitute of song and uttering: 

 only a faint, lisping note, this bird easily attracts attention^ 

 by its soft, delicate coloring and its jaunty appearance. It is^ 

 found in flocks during the greater part of the year and in- 

 winter feeds largely in hackberry, cedar, and other berry- 



»Beal F. E. L., Bull. €19, U. S. Dcpt. Agr., pp. 2B-27, 1918. 

 tGolsan and Holt, The Auk, vol. 81, p. 230, 1914, 



