636 



BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



of mandible at base, 11.43-13.21 (12.45); tarsu.s, 22.80-25.65 (24.38); 

 middle toe, 15.49-1 Y. 78 (16.76).' 



Young male. — Somewhat like the adult female, but ])ill mainly dusky 

 horn color, capi.strum obsolete, and under parts more or les.s clouded 

 or tinged with light vermilion. 



Young female. — Similar to young male, ])ut without admixture of 

 red on ui der parts. 



[The young retain their immature plumage for only a short time; 

 being immediately after their autumn molt essentially identical in 

 coloration Avith adults, the only obvious ditference consisting in the 

 duller red, or partially dusky, color of the })ill.] 



Eastern United States; north, regularly and breeding, to south- 

 eastern New York (Long Island, New^ York City, Nyack, etc.), lower 



' Thirty-seven specimens. 



Specimens from west of the Allegheny Mountains average slightly different from 

 those taken in tlie Atlantic coast district. The males average appreciably brighter 

 in color, the red Ijeing more intense and at the same time purer. Females average 

 both paler and grayer. The difference is in the direction of the rather poorly char- 

 acterized suljspecies of Texas and northeastern Mexico {('. r. r(micaudns), and the 

 Mississijipi \'aHey birds are so completely intermediate between the latter and true 

 C. cardiiKiIis that they may ahnost as properly be referred to one as to the other. 



Specimens from South Carolina and Georgia, while averaging a little smaller than 

 those from more northern localities, are clearly referable to true C. ntrdinaliK rather 

 than to the Florida form. 



Separating the series of specimens into three lots, according to the di.^trict from 

 whence they were obtained, average measurements are as follows: 



The measurements of Louisiana specimens are given above simply for sake of com- 

 parison. The Louisiana bird almost certainly is not true C. cnrdinalis, neither can it 

 be referred without doubt to <'. c. Jioridunuii; but until more numerous specimens, 

 including females as well as males, have l>een examined 1 do not projiose lo sepa- 

 rate it. 



