62 BIRD-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 



GROSSBEAKS. 



CARDINAL GROSSBEAK. 



The Cardinal Grossbeak, with his bright black 

 and red plumage, and fine pointed crest, is really 

 a splendid bird. His fame for beauty and song 

 hath reached across the Atlantic, and in Europe 

 he is much prized, and named the Virginia Night- 

 ingale, from the resemblance his notes bear to 

 the notes of that bird, and which is said by 

 judges, to be but little inferior. He is a sprightly 

 and active bird, has a fine figure, and a clear 

 voice, and a good deal of variety in his note. 

 They are clean in the cage, feeding principally 

 upon seeds, which makes them, altogether, very 

 desirable cage birds, and great favorites with 

 those who possess them. The female of this 

 bird sings also a low but sweet note. 



They are a hardy and easily kept bird, and 

 will live a long time in a cage. There was a 

 preserved specimen in Peale's Museum some 

 years ago, which, it was said, lived twenty-one 

 years in the cage. 



