BOHEMIAN WAXWING. 
71 
GENUS VII. — BOMBYCILLA, Vieill. 
13. BOMBYCILLA GARRULA , VIEILL. BOHEMIAN WAXWING. 
BONAPARTE, PLATE XVI. FIG. II. 
If the absurd theory advanced by Buffon, that Euro- 
pean animals degenerate, or become more or less changed, 
in other climates, needed in our time any additional 
refutation, the discovery of this bird on the north- 
western territory, near the Rocky Mountains, would 
afford it. By appearing in its full size and perfection, 
exactly similar to the European individuals of its 
species, it would vindicate its smaller relation, the 
common and familiar cedar bird, from the reproach of 
degeneracy. But with the more enlightened opinions 
that now prevail, its occurrence in that unexplored 
portion of the globe is important chiefly as tending to 
solve the problem of the place of abode of this myste- 
rious wanderer ; especially as, by a singular coincidence, 
whilst we were proclaiming this species as American, it 
was received by Temminck from Japan, together with 
a new species, the third known of the genus, which he 
has caused to be figured and distinguished by the 
appropriate name of Bombycilla phcenicoptera , Boie. 
Besides the red band across the wing, whence its name 
is derived, the length of its crest adorned with black 
feathers, and the uniform absence, in all states, of the 
corneous appendages of the 'wings, this new species, 
resembling more in size and shape the Carolina wax- 
wing (cedar bird) than the present, is eminently dis- 
tinguished from both by wanting the small, closely set 
feathers covering the nostrils, hitherto assigned as one 
of the characters of the genus. This example evinces 
the insufficiency of that character, though Illiger con- 
sidered it of such importance as to induce him to unite 
in his great genus Corvus , (comprehending this as well 
as several other distinct groups,) all the species possessing 
it. It shews, especially, how erroneous it is to form two 
separate families for the allied genera with covered or 
