White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-29

THE CEDAR WAX n
III

7T
have then you may hope to observe
the Cedar Wax Wing. Cedar Bird or
Cherry Bird, as this family of feath-
cred friends are often manned.
Having no fixed season for migrat-
ing, the waxwing may be seen at any
time during the winter months. Oft
en- il the little red seed pods of the
wild rose are plentiful he may linger
in the neighborhood for several days
before continuing his journey south,
ward. A minute description of this
bird is hardly necessary as he is new
|er seen singiy. Your attention will
be drawn some day by a quiet fiutter
of birds, in size Just a little smaller
than the robin. They will come to
rest on a bush perching in an erect
position which at once brings your
attention to the beautiful feathered
crest standing high from the crown
of the head A rich brown color,
shaded with gray and plum-colored
tints distributed about the throat
and chest and wings wins your adj
miration and at once arouses a de-
sire for closer observation. Careful,
or you will brighten them away, un-
less they are regular visitors in your
neighbOrhood, and have become ac-
customed to a friendly observer they
will not tarry long. Your first good
look had better be taken through
field or opera glasses and 1t will re-
pay you for the trouble. A close up
view OF the male bird reveals a won
derful work of f~eathered art. The
purple-tinted brown crest with a
yelvety black line below running
from the bill to the top of the head
will attract your eye first. Then you
will notice the little. red spots just
like brilliant red sealing wax drop
ped on the edges of the wings. The
ped on the edges of the wings, this
marking being responsible for the
of the bird, Waxwing. The
breast feathers are a lighter brown.
shading to a deep yellow toward the
legs. Tips of wings are dark purple
and the tail has a broad band of yell
low, plainly seen as the birds take
Not a gaudy colored bird by
any means. The rich and genteel
hues of an aristocrat mark this lit
tie fellow, combined with the sensi-
tive movement of the exquisite crest
which rises and falls to express each
emotion, give him the hall
marks of a patrician. No harsh
sounds are heard from these little
throats, just a breezy little twitter
as they move gracefully about the
rose bushes breaking open the red
pods and eating the hard seeds found
The warnings are unlike
many other birds In their feeding.
Instead Of spending a great amount
Of time in driving each other away
from the food they seem to quietly
discuss the tmerits of the berries and
each other to select choice
ones. Just when you are most in
terested In watching them you will
see a general rising and falling of
the pointed head ornaments and
away they go In quiet flight disap-
perhaps for the balance of
the winter.
Now that we have seen the wax
wings We should know why they
be protected. Their beauty
be warrant enough. but beau
ty and general usefulness are com
bined in this bird. First, he is a
great eater of insects travelling slow
ly over the foliage Of the fruit and
shade trees in the summer months,
vast quantities Of leaf
beetles and the pest Of the apple
tree, the canksrworm. II a pair
build a nsst in an apple tree,
provided You are in a part Of Nevada
where apples will grow. guard the
nest from harm, you Will be repaid,
as 1t takes many worms and beetles
to feed the young brood. Not only Is
family of birds busy in summer,
but many of the hard seeds gathered
in winter are u~ndigested and dropped
along the wayside, thus planting
wild hedges that make beautiful
many spots where soil and d little
await the planting. The
cut worm and its beetle, so we'll
known to the amateur gardner, are
favorite food of the warnings. For
appetite alone they are surely
worthy Of protection.