Family AMPELIDi^l. 



THE WAXWING. 



Ampelis garrulus, Linnaeus. 

 Plate 14. 



The summer haunts of the Waxwing are the forests of northern Scandinavia, 

 Russia, and Asia, whilst a more or less extended southward and westward move- 

 ment takes place in winter. 



It has long been known as a visitor to our islands, having been first mentioned 

 by Sir Thomas Browne of Norwich, who, writing to his friend Merrett on Sep- 

 tember 16, 1668, says: "Garrulus Bohemicus probably you haue a prettie hand- 

 some bird with the fine cinnaberin tipps of the wings some wch I haue seen 

 heere haue the tayle tipt with yellowe wch is not in the discription " [Notes 

 and Letters on the Natural History of Norfolk, with notes by Thomas South- 

 well, p. 68. Jarrold & Sons, 1902). 



Nothing was known about the nest and eggs of the Waxwing until the year 

 1856, when John Wooley obtained them from his collectors in Russian Lapland. 



The nest is placed on the branch of a fir or birch, and is principally made of 

 the lichen called tree-hair and twigs ; and the eggs, varying in number from five 

 to seven, are described by Mr. Dresser {Manual of Palcearctic Birds, p. 250) as 

 " pale blue with pale purplish shell-markings and black surface-spots, but occasion- 

 ally the ground colour is warm pinkish." 



In summer the food of the Waxwing consists of insects, and in autumn and 

 winter of hips and haws, the fruit of the berberry and other trees. 



Seebohm compares the note of this bird to that of the Blue Tit. 



The female resembles the male in colour. 



9* 



