Genus BOMBYCIVORA, Temma. 
Grn. Cuar. Beak short, straight, elevated, the upper mandible slightly curved towards its 
extremity and furnished with a very marked tooth. Nostrils basal, ovoid, open, concealed 
by short stiff hairs directed forward. Toes, three before and one behind, the external and 
middle toes united. Wangs moderate, the first and second quill-feathers equal and longest. 
WAXEN CHATTERER. 
Bombycivora garrula, Temm. 
Le Grand Jaseur. 
Tue birds composing the genus Bombycwora, as restricted by M. Temminck, are by no means numerous, 
three species only having as yet, we believe, been discovered. ‘The present beautiful example, which is the 
largest, and may be considered the most typical of the genus, is the only one Europe affords us ; it is also to 
be found in the northern regions of America, although much less common than the smaller allied species 
peculiar to that Continent. The rare and uncertain visits of the Waxen Chatterer to our Island afford 
us but little insight into its history, as it is in winter only that small flocks now and then appear, driven 
probably by the severity of the season in northern climes to a more southern retreat. 
Its true habitat appears to be the regions of the arctic circle, whence it emigrates to the adjacent districts 
both of Asia and Europe. Dr. Latham informs us that it is plentiful both at St. Petersburg and Moscow in 
the winter, but is observed to come there from parts further north, and to depart again to the arctic circle in 
spring. It is never known to breed in Russia, is scarce in Siberia, has not been found beyond the Lena, and 
is mentioned as a Tartarian bird by Frisch, who says it breeds among the rocks; and nothing more, we 
believe, is known respecting its habits and nidification. The formation and general structure of its beak 
indicate it to be a true berry-feeder, and we accordingly find that during its visits here its food consists of the 
berries of the mountain ash, the haw, the privet, &c. 
The general colour of the body of the male bird is of a dull vinous ash, with a bright ferruginous tinge on 
the forehead and cheeks ; the feathers of the head prolonged into a beautiful crest ; beak and tarsi black ; the 
throat, the feathers of the nostrils, and a band which passes from the beak through the eye, black ; primary 
quill-feathers brownish-black, each feather being marked on the inner margin of the tip with a yellow line ; 
secondaries tipped with white and having the shaft prolonged and furnished with singular appendages 
resembling red sealing-wax, whence its name; upper tail-coverts ash-coloured, the under ones ferruginous ; 
tail black tipped with a yellow band. 
The male and female offer but slight external differences, both having the wax-like appendages to the 
secondaries ; they are, however, less numerous in the female, and are altogether wanting in the young. 
Our Plate represents a male in the adult plumage and of the natural size. 
