l. t£. /I^stZ^i^-Tri^/. 
February 1 st four Cedar Waxwtogs were seen 
on a tree on one of the principal streets, but only 
remained a few moments. A flock was also 
seen on the outskirts of the city during the latter 
part of January. *1 May. 1886. p.?/ 
r 
Birds of Bristol County , Mass. 
F. W. Andros. 
Ampelis 1 cedrorum (Vieill.), Cedar Waxwing. 
Resident, common. Breeds. 
O.&O. XII. Sept. 1887 p. 140 
oi d \,° bs ' T near Berkshire . 
vy, Maes. June 17-20, ’88. W. Faxon 
40 . Ampelis cedrorum. Cedarkird.— C ommon. 
Auk, VI. Jan., 18 S 8 .p. 4 $ 
Birds Known to Pass Breeding Season 
nr. Winchendon, Mass. Wm. Brewster 
54. Ampelis cedrorum. 
Auk, V, Oct,, 1888. p.389 
fids. Obs. near Graylock Mt. Berkshire 
Co. Mass. June 28 -July 16. W. Faxon 
Cedarbird. — Common in the cultivated 
April, 1889. p.102 
44- Ampelis cedrorum. 
lands. 
Auk, VI. 
An Early Spring. 
Editor Cambridge Tribtme: Does it really 
mean an early spring, the fact that crocuses 
and other early bulbous plants, in protected, 
sunny places, are already showing signs of 
earlv blossoming? We shall see. But there 
ter signs that our thus far spineless 
will be unable, this year, to find a back 
A friend reports the trailing arbutus 
i repens) already found in blossom at the 
nd on the fifth day of this month I saw 
of two dozen or more cedar-birds that 
.s though they had come to stay. I be- 
lowever, that it is now admitted that the 
t of birds and animals — called by recent 
iphers a sort of “transmitted habit” — 
absolutely unerring. But, since this 
appearance of the cedar-bird, or American wax- 
wing, is a month or so earlier than its adver- 
tised or usual time of coming, it is well that a ! 
note be made of the fact. In 1886, I first saw 
them in Cambridge, February 2t ; in 1888, on 
February 25. The bird is easily known by its 
gentle notes of “twee, twee,” as well as by 
its color — reddish olive — crested head, and 
yellow-tipped tail. The bird is deserving of 
our kindest consideration, notwithstanding a 
prejudice against it, born wholly of our ignor- 
ance of its real merit. It comes about as near 
to being omniverous as any bird we have in 
New England; but its chief food from now to 
“fiy-time,” will of course consist chiefly of 
seeds, the fruit of the mountain ash constitut- 
ing no inconsiderable part of its diet. Even in 
summer time, I have no doubt but they eat ten 
insects to one cherry, the cherry probably be- 
ing taken as part payment for the service it 
renders the gardener, as well as to prevent 
indigestion. y ., . 
C-ct- 1-/8“? 0 j. w. Freese. 
