FAMILY VIII. 
SERIC-ATIf Illiger. 
GENUS XU.—BOMHYCILLA, Vieill. 
65 . SOMBTCILLA CAEOLINElfSIS, BEISSON. 
AMPELIS AMEEICANAf WILSON.. — CEDAR BIRD. 
WILSON, PL. VII. FIG. I. EDINBDRGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
The plumage of these birds is of an exquisitely fine 
and silky texture, lying extremely smooth and glossy, 
Notwithstanding the name chatterers given to them, 
they are perhaps the most sileuf .species we have; 
making only a feeble, lisping sound, chiefly as they 
rise or alight. They fly in compact bodies, of from 
twenty to fifty ; and usually alight so close together on 
the same tree, that one half are frequently shot down 
at a time. In the months of July and August, they 
Collect together in flocks, and retire to the hilly parts 
of the State, the Blue Mountains, and other collateral 
ridges of the Alleghany, to enjoy the fruit of the 
^accinium uliginosum, whortleberries, which grow there 
jn great abundance ; ivholo mountains, for many miles, 
keing almost entirely covered with them ; and where. 
In the month of August, I have myself found the cedar 
birds numerous. In October they descend to the lower, 
cultivated parts of the country, to feed on the berries 
nf the sour gum, and red cedar, of which last they are 
Immoderately fond ; and thirty or forty may sometimes 
be seen fluttering among the branches of one small 
Cedar tree, plucking off the berries. They are also 
mund as far south as Mexico, as appears from the 
