66 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



greatly admired. The notes of the male are a 

 full loud whistle, which has been indicated by 

 the syllables '^ cheo-cheo-chehoo-cheo,^' The song 

 of the female is softer and quite different, yet 

 possessing the same quality. The call note of 

 both is a sharp 'Hsip.'*^ Years ago, one April 

 day after a late snowfall in a Virginia town, I 

 heard the Red Bird singing from a treetop, the 

 branches of which w^ere heavy with snow. The 

 bright color of the bird in contrast to the pure 

 white, together with his glad song, made an 

 impression I have never forgotten. 



The Cardinal is rather a bird of the hedge- 

 rows, garden and tangles of wild vines than of 

 the woods. He moves about somewhat clumsily, 

 with tail held high, showing little evidence of 

 the irritation that arises from a bad temper, 

 such as is displayed by many birds, especially the 

 House Wren. The bulky nest of leaves, bark, 

 grass, etc., is placed in a bush or low tree. The 

 light gray eggs are marked with brown spots. 

 The male Cardinal is a model husband and 

 father, bestowing upon his family the most 

 solicitous and constant care. Altogether he is 

 one of the most lovable of our feathered 

 creatures. They are rather more than eight 

 inches in length. 



