In northern Rupiahs and the extreme north of Norway, according to C. L. Bonaparte, they are seen in great numbers every winter, being observed there earlier than in temperate countries. In northern Asia and eastern Europe their migrations ore tolerably regular. Very numerous flocks pass through Scalia in November, and are again seen on their return in the spring.
But the species is not confined to Europe and Asia. "By a singular coincidence," says the Prince of Canino, "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." Ile says that his best specimen was shot on the 20th of March, 1825, on the Athabasca River, near the Rocky Mountains ; and observes that the species appears to be spread widely, as he had been credibly informed by hunters that "cedar-birds of a large kind" had been shot a little beyond the Mississippi ; adding that lie is at a loss to conceive why it should never have been observed on this side of the last-mentioned river. Mr. Drummond in the spring of 1826 saw it near the sources of the Athabasca, and Sir John Richardson observed it in the same season at Great Bear Lake in lat. 65°, where a male, of which he gives a description, was shot on the 29th of Mny of that year. He also says that he observed a large flock of at least three or four hundred on the banks of the Saskatchewan, at Carlton House, early in May, 1827. They alighted in a grove of poplars, settling all on one or two trees, and making a loud twittering noise. They stayed only about an hour in the morning, and were too shy to allow him to approach within gunshot The district where these birds breed is unknown. Bechstein says that it does not build in Germany when wild, but within the Arctic Circle.
Bonaparte gives a very amiable character of the European Wax-Wing in a state of nature, attributing to them a particular sentiment of benevolence, even independent of reciprocal sexual attraction. "Not only," says the Prince, "do the male and female caress and feed each other, but the same proofs of mutual kindness have been observed between individuals of the same sex." Speaking of their habits he says, "They always alight on tree.% hopping awkwardly on the ground. Their flight is very rapid : when taking wing they utter a note resembling the syllables zi, zi, ri, but are generally silent not withatanding the name that has been given them." Bechstein says,
"When wild we see it in the spring eating, like thrushes, all sorts of flies and other insects; in autumn and winter, different kinds of berries; and in time of need, the buds and sprouts of the beech, maple, and various fruit-trees." Willughby states that it feeds upon fruit, especially grapes, of which it is very greedy. " Wherefore it seems to me," be adds, "not without reason, to be called by that name Ampdia." Bonaparte makes their food to consist of different kinds of juicy berries, or of insects, observing that they are fond of the berries of the mountain-ash and Phytolacea, and that they are extremely greedy of grapes, and also, though in a leas degree, of juniper- and laurel-berries, apples, currants, figs, and other fruits. He adds that they drink often, dipping their bills repeatedly..
In captivity its qualities do not appear to be very attractive, according to Beclustein, who says that nothing but its beauty and scarcity can render the possession of it desirable, for that it is a stupid and lazy bird. Indeed he draws such a picture of its greediness and dirty habits, that, if it be not overcharged, few we should think would wish to have it as an inmate. Leaving out the more"unpleasant parts of his description, we take the following extract from his 'Cage Birds' : —"During the ten or twelve years that it can exist in confinement, and on very meagre food, it does nothing but eat and repose for digestion. If hunger induces it to move, its step is awkward, and its jumps ao clumsy as to be disagreeable to the eye. Its song consists only of weak and uncertain whistling, a little resembling the thrush, but not so loud. While singing it moves the crest, but hardly moves the throat. If this warbling is 'somewhat unmusical it has the merit of continuing throughout every season of the year. When angry, which happens sometimes near the common feeding-trough, it knocks very violently with its beak. It ie easily tamed." The same author says, that in confinement the two universal pastes appear delicacies to it ; and it is even satisfied with bran steeped in water. It swallows everything voraciously, and refuses nothing eatable, such as potatoes, cabbage, salad, fruit of all sorts, and especially white bread. It likes to bathe, or rather to sprinkle itself with water, for it does not wet itself so much as other birds.