It is taken in nooses, to which berries are fixed, which for this purpose, says the author last quoted, " should always be kept in store till February. It appears to be frightened at nothing, for it flies into nets and traps, though it sees its companions caught, and hanging and uttering cries of distress and fear.", Length about eight-inches; the size altogether approaching that of a starling.
Male. Bill strong, black, except at the base, where the colour inclines to a yellowish-white ; nostrils hidden under small black feathers. Irides purplish-red. Chin and throat velvety black, as is also the streak (in the midst of which is the eye) passing from the bill to the hinder part of the head. Forehead reddish-brown. Head feathers long, silky, forming a reclining crest approaching to reddish chestnut, which the bird can erect or depress at pleasure. Upper parts purplish-red, or vinaceous-brown dashed with ash-colour, the rump lightest. Breast and belly pale purplish-ash, tinged with pale brownish-red. Vent and under tail-coverts orange-brown inclining to reddish-orange. Greater wing-coverts black, tipped with white. Lesser wing-coverts of a shade darker than the general tint of the upper plumage. Primaries black, with a bright yellow spot near the white tips of their outer webs. Montagu says that the three first are tipped with white, and the others with yellow on their outer margins. Secondaries gray, tipped with white on the outer web, and seven or eight of them terminated with small flattish, oval, horny appendages, of the colour of red sealing-wax. Sometimes there are not more than 5 or 6 of these wax-like tips, and in Montagu'a specimen there were 5 on one side and 6 on the other. Graves gives the number at from 6 to 9 (Bechstein at from 5 to 9), and mentions the specimen in Mr. Haworth's collection, which had some on the tail, which is black tipped with yellow, and dashed with ash-colour at the base. Shanks, toes, and claws, black.
The flesh of this species is said• to be delicate food.
B. Carolinenais, the American Wax-Wing, or Cedar-Bird, was considered by some of the older naturalists to be identical with the European species, from which it had degenerated.
This species is the A mpdis garrulus, var. /3. of the 'Systems Nature • Garrulua Carolinensis, Is Jasenr de Caroline, the Chatterer of Catesy ; Turdua garrulua Carolinensis of Klein • Coquantotot of Hernandez ; Aria Americana cristata, Xemotl dicta of Seba ; Chatterer of Carolina of Edwards • Cedar-Bird, Ampelia Americana, of Wilson ; Recollet of the Voyageurs; Bombycilla Carolinenaia of Briason, Bonaparte, Audubon, and others. It is said to be found in the whole extent between Mexico and Canada, and parties are said occasionally to roam as far south as the forests of Guyana. In the United States it is a resident during tho whole year, the northern and middle states being its more usual quarters in the summer, and the southern in the winter season. It is stated that the bird has been found on the north-west coast of America, but its northern boundary appears to fall short of that of Bombycilla Bohemica. Say saw it near the Winnipeg River, in lat. 50°, and Sir John Richardson states his belief that it has not been hitherto observed to the northward of the 54th parallel. He says that Mr. Drummond saw several small flocks on the south branch of the Saskatchewan on the 27th June, and gives a description of a male killed there in lat. 52i° on that day,
1327. He adds that it frequents the northern shores of Lake Huron and of Lake Superior in summer.
The Cedar-Birds utter a feeble lisping sound, and fly, says Wilson, "in compact bodies of from twenty to fifty ; and usually alight so close together on the same tree, that one half are frequently shot down at a time. In .the months of July and August they collect together in flocks, and retire to the hilly parts of the state, the Blue Mountains, and other collateral ridges of the Allegheny, to enjoy the fruit of the Vaccinium Idiginosum, Whortleberries, which grow there in great abundance, whole mountains for many Liles being almost entirely covered with them ; and where in the month of August I have myself found the cedar-birds numerous. In October they descend to the lower cultivated parts of the country, to feed ou the berries of the sour gum and red cedar, of which last they are immo derately fond ; and thirty or forty may sometimes be seen fluttering among the branches of one small cedar-tree, plucking off the berries In the fall and beginning of summer, when they become very fat, they are in considerable esteem for the table ; and great numbers are brought to the market of Philadelphia, where they are sold at from twelve to twenty-five cents per dozen. During the whole winter and spring they are occasionally seen ; and about the 25th of Nay appear in numerous parties, making great havoc among the early cherries, selecting the best and ripest of the fruit." Audubon says that they reach Louisiana about the beginning of November, and retire towards the middle districts in the beginning of March. " The holly," writes the author last quoted, "the vines, the persimon, the pride of China, and various other trees, supply them with plenty of berries and fruits, ou which they fatten, and become so tender and juicy as to be sought by every epicure for the table. I have known an instance of a basketful of these littlo birds having been forwarded to New Orleans as a Christmas present." Aud delicious these fruit eating birds (for such is their general diet, albeit they are said to be excellent fly-catchers) undoubtedly are ; though Hernandez, who met with them near Tetzeuco (spud Tetzcoquenses), says that neither in their song nor in the flavour of their flesh are they better than other small birds (" neque est eantu aut nutrimeuto creteris avieulis commendatior" ). Their appetite is extraordinary : " They gorge them selves," observes Audubon, "to such excess, as sometimes to bo unable to fly, and suffer themselves to be takeu by tho hand. Indeed I have seen some which, although wounded and confined in a cage, have eaten of apples until suffocation deprived them of life in the eourae of a few days. When opened afterwards they were found to be gorged to the mouth." Notwithstanding this greediness they are, according to some writers, remarkable for their social said kindly disposition in a state of nature. Nuttall, on the authority of an eye-witness, states that oue among a row of these birds seated upon a branch, darted after an insect, and offered it to his associate when caught, who very disinterestedly passed it to'the next, and each delicately declining the offer, the morsel went backwards and forwards before it was appropriated.