89 



NATURALIZATION OF FOREIGN BIRDS 

 IN THIS COUNTRY. 



TO THE EDITOR OF THE NATURALIST. 



I know not how far it falls in with the design of your very interesting 

 Publication, to receive the suggestions of correspondents; but I am induced, 

 if not inconvenient, to solicit a brief space, with a view of calling the 

 attention of some of your readers to a subject of another kind. Every lover 

 of Nature must regret, if not the total destruction, yet the increasing rarity 

 of many species of birds, formerly plentiful in this country. It is true we 

 have occasionally introduced a new variety, but it has been chiefly with a 

 view to our game preserves. Our gardens and woods are annually enriched 

 by the exotics of all climes. Is there nothing to be done of the same kind, 

 as regards the songsters of other countries, some of which, doubtless, would 

 readily become naturalized with us? 



I will confine myself, at present, to naming the Loxia cardinalis, commonly 

 termed amongst English bird-fanciers, the Virginian Nightingale, or Cardinal 

 Grosbeak. Many of your readers need hardly be informed that this beautiful 

 scarlet bird is about the size of our Blackbird, possessing an excellent song; 

 and I doubt not is, or would become, quite hardy enough to bear our winters. 

 Indeed, as we are told by Miss Cooper, it is often seen in the cold latitudes 

 of the smaller lakes, in the north-western parts of the State of New York. 

 In my own (cold) conservatory, a male specimen has been in uniform good health 

 for the last three years, remaining in song about eight months annually; feeding 

 on almost any kind of seeds, corn, (chiefly oats,) fruit, insects, snails, etc. It 

 is only recently that I succeeded in procuring a female, of a browner shade 

 than the male bird, but equally graceful in form and action; moreover, what 

 I was not prepared to expect, quite equal in point of song to her mate; 

 perhaps in some respects even a little superior. 



Not to occujiy your columns, why might not these elegant and shewy 

 songsters be bred in our larger parks and preserved grounds? We want the 

 variety of a scarlet bird to enliven our woods. I lately took the opinion, on 

 this point, of one of our principal importers of foreign birds, (Mr. W. J. 

 Marrott, 54, King William Street, near London Bridge, London;) who coincides 

 with me in thinking that these beautiful creatures would readily adapt them- 

 selves to our climate, if turned out to breed at the present season of the 

 year, in localities free from molestation. I am not myself fortunate in this 

 respect, or I would gladly embrace the facilities afforded by Mr. Marrott, for 

 the importation of twenty or thirty pairs, as an experiment. I should rejoice 

 to know that my idea had been adopted by others more favourably located. 



Henry Taylor. 

 April Tlnd., 1851. 



VOL. L 



