242 CITIZEN BIRD 



Man down on his hands and knees behind a stump 

 — all watching two forlorn birds, who did not under- 

 stand that liberty was theirs for the taking. 



Mrs. Cardinal put out her head, then took a step and 

 hopped along the ground into a cornel bush ; where, 

 after looking around a moment, she began to smooth 

 her poor feathers. Another minute and Mr. Cardinal 

 followed, giving a sharp chip like a loud Sparrow call. 

 They both hopped off as if they were not half sure 

 their freedom was real. 



" I think they might have sung to us," whispered Dodo. 



"Too soon," said the Doctor; "but I'm sure that we 

 have not seen or heard the last of our Cardinals." 



"Hist !" said Nat, "they are taking a bath in the 



brook this side of the stepping-stones." And so they 



were. 



The Cardinal 



Length eight and a quarter inches. 



Male : splendid cardinal-red, with a black throat and band about 

 the coral-red bill, and a fine long crest, like a Cedar Waxwing's. 



Female : yellowish-brown with a little red in her crest, wings, 

 and tail, and her face not so black as her mate's. 



A Citizen of the eastern United States to the plains and from 

 Florida to the Great Lakes, nesting wherever found. 



A Tree Trapper, Ground Gleaner, Seed Sower, and Weed War- 

 rior, besides being a fine singer. 



THE ROSE-BEE ASTED GROSBEAK 

 (The Potato-Bug Bird) 



" This must be the bird I saw the other day in the 

 brusli lot by the old barn," said Rap ; " and there were 

 two more this morning in our own potato patch. Why 

 do they go there. Doctor?" 



