FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 369 



chewink-like character and proclaims his presence, as does his song 

 when the ear has caught the difference between it and that of the 

 Passerella. Though phrased somewhat like the song of the maculatus 

 group, it is wholly different in quality and rendering, being more 

 of the bright finch type with the Chondestes-li^e burr heard in so 

 many finch songs, and its two emphasized notes standing out in a 

 medley of short notes. 



His familiar voice is often heard from a wall of chaparral, but 

 he may generally be found perched on top of a bush, and at sight of 

 you will raise his rufous cap inquiringly, turning to look down so 

 that his white chin shows to good advantage. When seen hopping 

 over the ground he is as trim and alert as a song sparrow, looking 

 about and flashing his green tail till he disappears to scratch in the 

 brush. When surprised on the ground he will often run rather than 

 take wing. One that Mr. Bailey found on its nest at 7900 feet on 

 Donner Peak, California, ran silently for five or six rods through the 

 brush, and then stopped, to tempt him awa}'^ from its brood, 



GENUS CARDINALIS. 



General Characters. — Head with conspicuous crest ; bill stout, conical, 

 much deeper than broad at base ; wing- short, much rounded, primaries 

 exceeding- secondaries by less than length of exposed culmen ; tail longer 

 than wing. 



KEY TO ADULT MALES. 



1. Feathers all around base of bill black. 



2. Black frontlet wider. Eastern United States . cardiiialis, p. 369. 



2'. Black frontlet narrower. Texas to Mexico . canicaudus, p. 370. 



1'. Feathers around base of bill not black across forehead. Arizona to 



Mexico superbus, p. 370. 



593. Cardinalis cardinalis (Linn.). Cardinal. 



Adult male. — ("rest, head, and lower parts bright red, feathers around 

 base of bill black ; back dull red, feathers tipped witli olive gray, weaving 

 away in midsummer. Adult female : wings and tail dull 

 red ; crest partly red ; upper parts olive grayish ; under 

 ])arts grayisli buffy ; chest often tinged with red ; feathers 

 around h:is<; of hill and upper ])arts of throat dull grayish ; 

 under wing eoveits ])iiikish rtAl. Younq : like adult feni;ile. 

 but duller, the hill hlaekisli. M(de : length (skins) 7.40- 

 S.40, wing 3.r)0-3.(>3, tail 3.78-4.3."), bill .71-.S0. Female: 

 length (skins) 7.40-S.ir), wing 3.48-3.78, tail ;5.70-4.22, bill 



Distribution. — Resident in eastern United States from the Gulf north 

 regularly to about latitude 4P; cnsually northward to Ontario; west to 

 edge of great I'lains. rarely in western Kansas and Colorado. 



Nest. — A rather frail structure of sticks or tine rootlets, leaves, grsisses, 

 or strips of hark, sonietinu's covered witii gray moss; placed in bushes, 

 brambles, grapevines, or low trees. Egys : 2 to 4, white, irregularly spotted 

 with purple and red<lish brown. 



Food. — Insects, berries, seeds, and grain. 



