74 
BOMBYCILLA GARRULA. 
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 occa- 
sional and rare visitants in western, southern, or even 
central and northern Europe, and then only in the 
coldest months of the most severe winters. Notwith- 
standing that they at times invade peculiar districts in 
vast numbers, so remarkable is the appearance of these 
winged strangers then considered, that we find it placed 
upon record. However extraordinary it may seem to 
those who live in this enlightened age and country, 
that the unusual appearance of “ cedar birds of a large 
kind” should strike terror into the souls of men, such, 
notwithstanding, was the effect in more ignorant times. 
They have been looked upon as the precursors of war, 
pestilence, and other public calamities. One of their 
irruptions was experienced in Italy in 1571, when flocks 
of hundreds were seen flying about in the north of that 
country in the month of December, and were easily 
caught. A similar visit had taken place in 1530 in 
February, marking the epoch when Charles V. caused 
himself to be crowned at Bologna. Aldrovandi, from 
whom we learn the above particulars, also informs us 
that large flocks of them appeared in 1551, when it was 
remarked, that, though they spread in numbers through 
the Modenese, the Plaisantine, and other parts of Italy, 
they carefully avoided entering the Ferrarese, as if to 
escape the dreadful earthquake that was felt soon after, 
causing the very birds to turn their flight. In 1552, 
Gesner informs us, they appeared along the Rhine, near 
Mentz in Germany, in such numbers as to obscure the 
sun. They have, however, of late years, in Italy and 
Germany, and in France especially, at all times, been 
extremely rare, being seen only in small companies or 
singly, appearing as if they had strayed from their way. 
In England, the Bohemian waxwing has always been 
a rare visitant, coming only at long and uncertain 
intervals. In the winter of 1810 large flocks were 
dispersed through various parts of that kingdom, from 
