The Cedar Waxwing 
85 
close ranks on a level with the tree-tops along 
a straight course; or, wheeling suddenly, the 
birds dive downward into a promising, leafy, 
restaurant. Enormous numbers of insects are 
consumed by a flock. The elm-beetle, which 
destroys the beauty, if not the life, of some of 
our finest shade trees, would be exterminated 
if there were cedarbirds enough. One flock 
within a week rid a New England village of 
this pest that had eaten the leaves on the double 
row of elms which had been the glory of its 
broad main street for over a hundred years. 
When you see these birds in an orchard, look 
for better apples there next year. Canker- 
worms are a hon bouche to them; so are grubs 
and caterpillars, especially cutworms. 
Sometime after all the other birds, except 
the tardy little goldfinch, have nested, the 
waxwings give up the flocking habit and live 
in pairs. Toward the end of June, when many 
birds are rearing the second brood, you may see 
a couple begin to carry grass, shreds of bark, 
twine, fine roots, catkins, moss or rags — any 
or all of these building materials — ^to some tree, 
usually a fruit tree or a cedar ; and then, if you 
watch carefully, you will find what is not al- 
ways the case with humans — ^the birds’ manners 
at home are even better than when moving in 
society abroad. The devoted male brings 
dainties to his brooding mate and helps her feed 
