526 GRANIVOROUS BIRDS. 



The length of tlie Cardinal Bird is about 8 inches, and 11 in alar 

 dimensions. TJie whole upper parts are of a dull dusky-red, except 

 the sides of the neck, head, and whole lower parts, which are of a 

 clear vermilion. The chin, front, and lores black ; the head orna- 

 mented with a high-pointed crest. Tail nearly even and long. Bill 

 almost coral red. The legs and feet pale flesh-color, inclining to 

 brownish. Irids dark hazel. 



EVENING GROSBEAK. 



{Fringilla vespertina, Cooper. Boxap. Am. Orn. ii. p. 75. pi. 15. 



fig.l.) 



Sp. Charact. — Front and line over the eye yellow ; crown, wings, 

 and tail black ; secondaries and inner great wing-coverts white ; 

 bill pale yellow. 



This recently discovered and beautiful species, like 

 the following, appears to inhabit the solitudes of the 

 Northwestern interior, being met with from the extrem- 

 ity of the Michigan Territory to the Rocky Mountains. 

 It is not uncommon towards the upper extremity of Lake 

 Superior and the borders of Athabasca Lake ; to the east 

 of these limits they only appear to be transient visitors in 

 spring and fall. Their habits at the breeding-season are 

 unknown ; but during the stay they make in the spring, 

 in their migrating route, they appear to pass most of 

 the day in the deep and lonely swamps, thickly over- 

 grown with a gloomy and almost impervious forest of resi- 

 nous evergreens. From these they sally forth in small fam- 

 ilies to feed towards the approach of night; and at this 

 season, in the dusk of twilight, their strange and mourn- 

 ful notes are heard from the forest, while the sad and 

 serenading minstrel himself remains concealed ; though 

 at other times they are ^ fearless or incautious as to 

 suffer themselves to be seized almost by the hand. 



The Evening Grosbeak is 8^ inches long. The sides of the head, 

 neck, both above and beneath, with the interscapulars and breast, 



