3050 Birds. 



the rauntree, * along with a few seeds of dog-hippins, that is, the hips 

 of the common dog-rose (Rosa canina). 



The word Bohemian ought never to be used as constituting a part of 

 the name of this bird. The waxwing is neither peculiar to Bohemia, 

 nor would it seem to be the case that it makes its appearance there 

 more frequently than in many other portions of Europe. One of the 

 names, indeed, by which it is known in Germany is snow-bird {Svhnee 

 vogel), showing that, in the opinion of the inhabitants, it proceeds 

 from where winter has his stern sway. The generic name Bombv- 

 cilla, is evidently from bomby.v, bombycls^ the silk- worm', and also ' a 

 robe of silk'; in composition, perhaps, with cilleo, or cileo, to 'move' 

 or 'agitate', a verb, which soon became obsolete, but which was used in 

 the earlier ages of Roman literature. It refers, without doubt, to the 

 silky appearance of the plumage, and to the habits of the bird in 

 raising and depressing its crest, and in moving and probably expand- 

 ing its tail. For a similar reason, it has received in Germany the ap- 

 pellation of silk-tail (Seiden schwanz), the strict propriety of which I 

 cannot, however, perceive, as the silkiness of its plumage is not con- 

 fined to the tail. 



It is, at all times, interesting to trace the links by which the Al- 

 mighty proceeds so minutely in the amazing chain of existence, 

 rendering it difficult, or rather impossible, to say at what point 

 any particular structure absolutely ends, and another absolutely com- 

 mences. In this curious and most important department of zoo- 

 logy, Mr. Swainson has undoubtedly done much ; although, of his 

 labours, I cannot help entertaining the general impression that he 

 has become entangled, as it were, in a favourite theory ; and that, un- 

 conscious to himself, he is sometimes more anxious to make nature 

 bend to the quinary system, than simply to receive and to expound 



dark lantern. In reading and writing, moreover, we are sometimes too apt to think, 

 that whatever may happen to be familiarly known to ourselves, will, as a matter of 

 course, be equally so in the case of all others. 



* In many parts of Scotland the mountain-ash, and the woodbine or honeysuckle, 

 were, and it is to be feared, in some few quarters still are, regarded as a sovereign 

 spell or protection against witchcraft. A portion of either of them, placed above the 

 door, was sufficient to prevent the most formidable of those malicious beings, the 

 witches, from entering the house, or from doing its inmates harm. Hence the well- 

 known Scottish couplet: 



" The rauntree an* the woodbin 

 Will baud the witches on come in." 



