12 
BOHEMIAN WAX-WING. 
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 which period we do 
not find it recorded by English writers till the month of February 
1822, when a few came under Mr. Selby’s inspection, and several 
* • 
were again observed during the severe storm in the winter of 
1823. Upon the continent, its returns are subject to similar 
uncertainty. In M. Necker’s very interesting memoir lately 
published on the birds of Geneva, we read, that from the beginning 
of this century only two considerable flights have been observed 
in that canton, one in January 1807, and the other in January 
1814, when they were very numerous, and spent the winter there, 
all departing in March. In 1807 they were dispersed over a great 
portion of western Europe, and were seen near Edinburgh in the 
first days of that year. 
What extent of country they inhabit or frequent in this con¬ 
tinent, and whether numerous or not, we are unable to state. The 
specimen here figured was obtained, together with others, from 
the north-western range of the Rocky Mountains, and the species 
appears to spread widely, as we have been credibly informed by 
hunters that e< Cedar-birds of a large kind” have been shot a 
little beyond the Mississippi, at a very great distance from the 
spot where ours were obtained. Thus does this species extend 
its range round the whole earth, from the coasts of Europe 
eastwardly to the Rocky Mountains in America; and we are at a 
loss to conceive why it should never have been observed on this 
side of the Mississippi. 
Very little is known of the peculiar habits of this elegant bird. 
It assembles in large flocks, and feeds on different kinds of juicy 
berries, or on insects, which during summer constitute their 
principal food. In common with many other birds, they are fond 
of the berries of the mountain-ash and phytolacca, are extremely 
