BOHEMIAN WAXWING. 
73 
pairs only in the breeding- season ,* and so social is their 
disposition, that, as soon as the young- are able to fly, 
they collect in large bands from the whole neighbour- 
hood. They perform extensive journeys, and are great 
and irregular wanderers. Far from being shy, they are 
simple and easily tamed, hut generally soon die in con- 
finement. Their food consists chiefly of juicy fruits, 
on which they fatten, but to the great detriment of the 
orchard, where they commit extensive ravages. When 
fruits are scarce, they seize upon insects, catching them 
dexterously in the same manner as their distant relatives 
the flycatchers. N o name could be more inappropriate 
for these birds than that of chatterers, as there are few 
less noisy, and they might 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 otherwise, 
naturalists who have explored these regions asserting 
that they are rarer and more accidental there than in 
temperate 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 was 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 
