460 
BOHEMIAN WAX WING. 
miglit even be called mute with much better reason. They 
build in trees, and lay, twice in a year, about five eggs. 
Whence does the Bohemian waxwing come at the long and 
irregular periods of its migrations ? Whither does it retire 
to pass its existence and give birth to its progeny ? These are 
circumstances involved in darkness, and which it has not been 
given to any naturalist to ascertain. It has been stated, and 
with much appearance of probability, that these birds retire 
during summer within the arctic circle ; but the fact is other- 
wise, naturalists who have explored these regions, asserting 
that they are rarer and more accidental there than in temper- 
ate climates. It seems probable that their chief place of abode 
is in the oriental parts of the old continent, and, if we may 
hazard an opinion, we should not be surprised if the extensive 
and elevated table land of Central Asia were found to be their 
principal rendezvous, whence, like the Tartars in former times, 
they make their irregular excursions. 
As we can only arrive at the truth in this matter by observing 
facts, and collecting localities, we shall endeavour to do this 
with the greatest accuracy. In northern Russia, and the extreme 
north of Norway, they are seen in great numbers every winter, 
being observed there earlier than in temperate countries. In 
northern Asia and eastern Europe their migrations are tolerably 
regular ; very numerous flocks generally pass through Scania 
in November, and are again seen on their return in the spring. 
But they appear only at very remote and irregular periods, 
and merely as occasional and rare visitants in western, south- 
ern, or even central and northern Europe, and then only in 
the coldest months of the most severe winters. Notwithstand- 
ing that they at times invade peculiar districts in vast num- 
bers, so remarkable is the appearance of these winged stran- 
gers then considered, that we find it placed upon record. How- 
ever extraordinary it may seem to those who live in this en- 
lightened age and country, that the unusual appearance of 
“ cedar-birds of a large kind’’ should strike terror into the 
