always been a rarn yisifantj. qnmmg onlyv at' long and uncertain
intervals.,, la the, winter o f .18 ip large .flqcksl;^£re dispersed
^ o u g h ; yariojis .parts of tliat;king.dom; from which pcrio^, we dp
npt find it, recorded py English w rites, till the mpnth pblfebruary
182Sj, when a few name under ]$fc. Selbyl^ inspection, and," several
^were^again observed, during the severe storm in ^h e winter -of
18jgSi (,-Upon the continent,, its returns are subject .to .similar
uncertainty.. I n .. M.,IM&fcer.’s,T»yery . interesting ^memoir . lately
published.^ the birds of Geneva, we read, that from the beginning
of this,cenpiry only two considerable flights, hayg been,.obs,erved
in that cantpp, one in January 1807, and tjmeother in, January
18M,. when they were very pumenous, and spent the winter there,
all departing in'March. .In^l;8,07 they wpne, dispersed over a great
portion of western -Europe* and were seen near Edinburgh.in 4the
first days of that year, ^
.What^extent of c'pj^itry .they inhabit or frequent in this c o n tinent,
and whether numerous or not, we .are unable to. state. jHbe
sj^eciHtgn here figured was obtained, together with others, from
the north-western range of the. Bocky Mountains, and the species
appears to spread, widely, as we have been credibly informed by
huntergrrthat “ Cedar-birds .of a large kind” have been.^bq.t,.. a
little- beyond the Mi4g|ssippi, at .«a „very,- great distance from the'
spot^here. ours Were, obtained. . Thus- does this -- specie^, extend
its range . roUnd the. whole^earth,, from the coasts of. Europe
eastwardly toft]feRocky Mountains in America;, and we are at a
l^ss.to conceive why it should never have been observed on,this
side of the X|ismssippi. .
■ ,y e ry little is known of the peculiar habits of this elegant bird.
It assembles.m large flocks, and, feeds on different kinds,of juicy
berries,^ err t on- insects,, which during summer . constitute their
principal- food. In common with maoyjjjjtber birds, they are fond
of the berries of the mountain-ash and phytolacca, are extremely
BOHEMIAN WAX-WING. m
greedy of grapes,'^and also, though in >a less degree, of juniper
and laurel-feerrMs, -apples, curf ants,rfigs, and other fruits. The'y
drink*often, dipping in their bill repeatedly. iBesMes their social
disposition, andogenemM^ve-of their!'s-pdbies/îtbesfë biiyfls appeal
susceptible of individual attachment, as if ' tlfby’ felt a particular
sentimemWf .'b^evolénCe, even-independent of ^e&procâl sèxual
attraction. Not only do the male -and female carets «and feëd eaëh
other., but.tbeïsUme proofs o f mutual kindness ‘have- been observed
bctWhom .individuals}of the same sex. This amiable disposition,
so agreéable for dthérs, iéïten^béeKitnWs^â s'erib'tis disadvantage' to
its possesjsör. It > always; supposed jmôrç senslbillt^ tban.,,énb#gÿ,ï
more 'confidence than penetration,!«mbre, sixmplièity than prudence,
and precipitates tfiese ias. well - as nobler victims, into thé snares
prepared for I them by moré! artful anB «e!fi>sh 'beings.' Hence
f!ii|C;fi?re stigmatized.,as stupid; and as lfheyiÉÊê^p'igenêrâHy dosé
Mgftieir; many are .easily killed kt once by a single d isch a rg ed
a gun> 'I J|nfey'%ilways alight. omtrêtlsV 'hopping âwkwardlyVénf'tbé
ground* | Their iMghtisYvery rapid: when taking W'ing/ they üîter
a note resembling ^eAyllables z ifzii rl^bnt ate gtefier'Éftf fflertt,
notwithstanding the name that bas^beengivWtttèm. They'are
however isaid to have a sweet and agreeable song in the time of
breeding, though at others it is a mere whistle. The placé of
breeding, as wë have*m;timated, is*not known with ânÿ Certainty,
though they are said to build in high northern latitudes} preferring
mountainous districts, and «laying «in the cleft's, of rocks, which
however, judging from analogy, wë cannot believe.
What can b.e the càuse of their leaving their unknown abodes,
of their wide migrations, and extraordinary irruptions, it is very
difficult to determine. H That1 they are not compelled to them by
oold is well proved. Are they to be ascribed io necessity from
excessive multiplication, as is «the, case with the small quadrupeds
called ^Lemmings, and even with manjiim&rf h r a savage state,