394 



SYSTEMA TIC SYNOPSIS. — PA SSERES — OSCINES. 



early age, bill dark. Eastern U. S., southerly, seldom N. to the Connecticut Valley ; along the 

 Mexican border shading into C. v. igneus. A bird of striking appearance and brilliant vocal 

 powers, resident and abundant from the Middle States southward ; inhabits thickets, tangle and 

 undergrowth of all kinds, whence issue its rich rolling whistling notes while the performer, 

 brightly clad as he is, often eludes observation by his shyness, vigilance, and activity. The 

 nest, built loosely of bark-strips, twigs, leaves, and grasses, is placed in a bush, vine, or low 



Fig. 255. — Cardinal Grosbeak, upper ; Rose-breasted 



reduced. (From Brehm.) 



thick tree ; the eggs are 1.00-1.10 long, 0.70-0.80 in, breadth, profusely marked with browns, 

 from reddish to dark chocolate, with neutral tint in the shell, usually in fine dotting or mar- 

 bling pattern. Two or three broods are reared in the South. Like the rose-breasted grosbeak, 

 the cardinal is a favorite cage-bird. 



C. V. ig'neus. (Lat. igneus, fiery.) Fiery- red Cardinal. Like the last; not redder, but if 

 anything lighter red ; black mask narrowed on forehead, or s<j interrupted there that the red 

 reaches to the bill; crest inclining to light red, more like that of belly than of back. BilJ 



