{p. lK0a%s&^rn^s. 
February 1st four Cedar Waxwings 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 
r* T 0.<& O* 2CL M&y.lS86«p*// 
part of January. 
Birds of Bristol County , Mass. 
P- W. Andros. 
Ampelis ' cedrorum (Vieill.), Cedar Waxwing. 
Resident, common. Breeds. 
O.&O. XII. Sept. 1387 p.140 
Bds °h 8 . near Sheffield, Berkshire 
Cy, Mass, June 17-26, '88. W. Faxon* 
40 . Ampelis cedrorum. CKUAnmun.-Jcommo,,. 
Auk, VI. Jm, , lS#0.p.45 
Birds Known to Pass Breeding Season 
nr. Winchendon, Mass. Wm. Brewster 
54. Ampelis cedrorum. 
Auk. V, Oct,, 1888. p.389 
An Early Spring. 
Editor Cambridge Tribune: 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 
early blossoming? We shall see. But there 
are other signs that our thus far spineless 
winter will be unable, this year, to find a back 
bone. A friend reports the trailing arbutus 
{epigaa repens ) already found in blossom at the 
cape, and on the fifth day of this month I saw 
a flock of two dozen or more cedar-birds that 
acted as though they had come to stay. I be- 
lieve, however, that it is now admitted that the 
instinct of birds and animals — called by recent 
philosophers a sort of “transmitted habit” — 
is not 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 21 ; 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, bom 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 
“fly-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 
T-tt- t-t sto j, yf Freese. 
