214 
BOHEMIAN WAXWING. 
portion of their food, and which were mostly 
taken on the wing. Their breeding places are 
yet unknown. They are supposed to be in nor 
them or central Asia, and by Dr Richardson, 
in the mountainous limestone districts between 
the sixty-eighth and sixty-ninth parallels. These, 
in the words of Bonaparte, “ are circumstances 
involved in darkness, and which it has not been 
given to any naturalist to ascertain.”* On various 
parts of the Continent, particularly Italy, w r e learn 
from the same ornithologist, that their appearance 
was looked upon with superstitious awe, and as 
“ the precursors of war, pestilence, and other 
public calamities.” We are not aware, that the 
large flocks which sometimes visit Europe, accor- 
ding to Gesner, “ in such numbers as to obscure 
the sun,” are used for food ; but in America, the 
small species, (B. Americana ,) on the authority 
of Wilson and Audubon, is esteemed by epicures, 
and when fattened during the profuse season of 
the berries, is brought to the markets, and sold 
from twelve to twenty cents per dozen.f 
The plumage of this bird is loose and soft; 
the feathers on the crow r n are elongated, and form 
a beautiful crest, erectile at the will of the bird ; 
it is purplish red, and shades into dull chestnut 
red immediately above the bill ; round the eyes, 
a narrow stripe, stretching above the nostrils, 
black, continued behind the eyes, and marking 
the separation of the crest from the nape ; the 
throat, and fore part of the neck, are of the same 
dark colour ; the neck, back, and under parts of the 
* Continuation of Wilson. Wilson’s Ornithology. 
