266 
BOMBYCILLA CAROLINENSIS. 
accounts of Fernandez, Seba,* and others. Fernandez 
saw them near Tetzeuco, and calls them coquantotl ; 
says they delight to dwell in the mountainous parts of 
the country; and that their flesh and song are both 
indifferent.*)' Most of our epicures here are, however, 
of a different opinion, as to their palatableness ; for, in 
the fall and beginning of summer, when they become 
very fat, they are in considerable esteem for the table ; 
and great numbers are brought to the market of Phila- 
delphia, where they are sold from twelve to twenty-five 
cents per dozen. During the whole winter and spring 
they are occasionally seen ; and, about the 25th of May, 
appear in numerous parties, making great havoc among 
the early cherries, selecting the best and ripest of the 
fruit. Nor are they easily intimidated by the presence 
of Mr Scarecrow ; for I have seen a flock deliberately 
regaling on the fruit of a loaded cherry tree, while on 
the same tree one of these guardian angels , and a very 
formidable one too, stretched his stiffened arms, and 
displayed his dangling legs, with all the pomposity of 
authority! At this time of the season most of our 
resident birds, and many of our summer visitants, are 
sitting, or have young; while, even on the 1st of June, 
the eggs in the ovary of the female cedar bird are no 
larger than mustard seed ; and it is generally the 8th 
or 10th of that month before they begin to build. 
These last are curious circumstances, which it is diffi- 
cult to account for, unless by supposing, that incubation 
is retarded by a scarcity of suitable food in spring, 
berries and other fruit being their usual fare. In May, 
before the cherries are ripe, they are lean, and little 
else is found in their stomachs than a few shrivelled 
cedar berries, the refuse of the former season, and a 
few fragments of beetles and other insects, which do 
not appear to be their common food; but in June, 
* The figure of this bird, in Seba’s voluminous work, is too 
wretched for criticism ; it is there called “ Oiseau Xomotl, 
d’Amerique, hupe.” Seb. ii. p. 66, t. 65, fig. 5. 
f Hist. Av. Nov. Ilisp. 55. 
