831 
uudoi- surtaco is of a palo imglazocl pink.* Fortunately, to assist 
us in solving tho (iuestiou I have raised as to the development by 
age or constitution, or both, of these waxen tips, tho long-existing 
mystery as to tho breeding haunts of tho Waxwing has been cleared 
up through tho researches of tho late Mr. John Wolley, and tho 
plumage of tho nestlings ascertained at tho same time. 
Plumaok of Tiiii Young as Kestlinos. 
In tho Norwich Museum, thanks to ^Ir. Wolley’s warm interest 
in that Institution, is a case containing one of tho first Waxwin"’s 
nests taken by his collectors in Finnish Lapland in the summer of 
185G; together Avith a pair of old birds killed from tho nest, and 
a nestling taken on tho 5th of August as it fluttered from its nest 
Avhen disturbed. This youngster, tho first that had ever been met 
with at that stage of its growth, Avas found to tho surprise of all 
ornithologists to have its Avings already fringed Avith Avaxen 
appendages; indeed, to use Mr. Wolloy’s OAvn Avords in communi- 
cating tho grand discovery to his friend Professor Newton, “ tho 
Avax-like ends to tho Aving feathers, tho yelloAv tip to the tail, the 
black patch between tho eye and tho beak, are all there ; ” and, 
e.xcepting tho absence of the black patch on tho chin, tho general 
dulnoss of tho colouring, and tho peculiarly mottled and striped 
appearance of tho under parts of tho plumage, this young bird so 
nearly resembles the parents as to form an exception, almost, to tho 
ornithological rule, that in species Avhero the adult males and 
females resemble each other the nestlings haA'e a plumage of 
their OAvn. 
This most interesting specimen, at first sight, ajipears to liave 
four tips on one Aving and three on the other, but a more careful 
examination of the latter, shoAvs five projecting shafts, from tAvo 
of Avhich, as in some old birds, the AA’axen ornaments have been 
scaled off. In the wing with four perfect tips there is no sign of 
projection in the shafts of any of the other feathers, and, in this 
* “ Tlie stnictiire of these api>endages,” writes Professor Newton (Yarrell’s 
‘British Birtls, vol. i. p. 534), “has lieen carefully Jescribeil and compared 
with similar substances found in other birds by Ilerr C. II. Andersen” 
(<Efvers. K. Vet.-Ak. Forhandl. 1859, pp. 219—231, pi. ii.). 
