168 
BLACK-THROATED WAXWING. 
birds, during the short and only time they ever came under my notice. 
From the man I learned that before the first shot they were quite mute, 
and unsuspicious of danger. Some days after these were obtained, a single 
one was observed by my father repeatedly to come and sit for a consider- 
able time on some willows at the bottom of our garden, but not being 
accustomed to the use of a gun, he did not procure it. Whether this was 
the wounded one or not, we could not tell, but from the affection of the 
bird for its kind, we thought that possibly it might be that one in search 
of its lost companions.” 
Bombycilla garrula, European Chatterer , Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. 
ii. p. 237. 
Bombycilla garrula, Bonap. Syn., p. 438. 
Bombycilla garrula, Bonap. Amer. Orn., vol. iii. pi. 16. 
European Waxen Chatterer, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 579. 
Bohemian Chatterer, Bombycilla garrula , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 462. 
General colour light greyish-brown, passing behind into ash-grey, before 
into brownish-orange, of which colour are the forehead, a patch on each side 
of the throat near the base of the bill, and the feathers under the tail ; a band 
of deep black from the nasal membrane over the eye to the top of the head, 
where it is concealed by the crest ; feathers at the base of the lower mandi- 
ble and a narrow streak below the eye, white ; upper part of throat deep 
black ; feathers of the wings greyish-black ; primary coverts largely tipped 
with white ; primary quills with a bright yellow, secondary with a white 
elongated spot at the end of the outer web, and tipped with oblong wax- 
red appendages ; tail light grey at the base, gradually shaded into deep 
black, with a broad band of bright yellow. Female similar to the male, 
but somewhat smaller. Oblong waxen appendages to the secondary quills, 
varying from seven to three, sometimes wanting, especially in young birds ; 
males with the shafts of the tail-feathers very slightly enlarged at the end, 
and bright red. Carefully compared with European specimens. 
Male, 91, 16^. 
From New York eastward and northward, to the Fur Countries. 
