168 BLACK-THROATED WAXWING. 



birds, during the short and only time they ever came under my notice. 

 From the man I learned that before the first shot they were quite mute, and 

 unsuspicious of danger. Some days after these were obtained, a single one 

 was observed by my father repeatedly to come and sit for a considerable 

 time on some willows at the bottom of our garden, but not being accustomed 

 to the use of a gun, he did not procure it. Whether this was the wounded 

 one or not, we could not tell, but from the affection of the bird for its kind, 

 we thought that possibly it might be that one in search of its lost com- 

 panions." 



Bombycilla garrula, European Chatterer, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. 



p. 237. 

 Bombycilla garrula, Bonap. Syn., p. 438. 

 Bombycilla garrula, Bonap. Amer. Orn., vol. iii. pi. 16. 

 European Waxen Chatterer, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 579. 

 Bohemian Chatterer, Bombycilla garrula, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 462. 



General colour light greyish-brown, passing behind in ash-grey, before 

 into brownish-orange, of which colour are the forehead, a patch on each side 

 of the throat near the base of the bill, and the feathers under the tail; a band 

 of deep black from the nasal membrane over the eye to the top of the head, 

 where it is concealed by the crest; feathers at the base of the lower mandible 

 and a narrow streak below the eye, white; upper part of throat deep black; 

 feathers of the wings greyish-black; primary coverts largely tipped with 

 white; primary quills with a bright yellow, secondary with a white elongated 

 spot at the end of the outer web, and tipped with oblong wax-red append- 

 ages; tail light grey at the base, gradually shaded into deep black, with a 

 broad band of bright yellow. Female similar to the male, but somewhat 

 smaller. Oblong waxen appendages to the secondary quills, varying from 

 seven to three, sometimes wanting, especially in young birds; males with the 

 shafts of the tail-feathers very slightly enlarged at the end, and bright red. 

 Carefully compared with European specimens. 



Male, 9|, 16*. 



From New York, eastward and northward, to the Fur Countries. 



