THE ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. 99 



of thirteen inches. Next comes a mat of dead leaves, mostly beech. Inside 

 this in turn is a tough basket-work of grape-vine bark and a lining of hne 

 fresh grass cured in the nest. It measures, inside, three and a quarter inches 

 in width and two and a half in depth. 



The eggs are quite variable; even those in the same nest are hard to 

 reconcile, both as to shape and markings. Because of the similarity in ap- 

 pearance, Cowbirds' eggs are easily imposed upon the Cardinal. Professor 

 Jones and I once found a nest with the bird on, whose three eggs were to 

 the best of our judgment the combined product of as many Cowbirds. 



The young hatch out in about fourteen days, and are ready to leave 

 the nest in ten days more. The father is especially devoted to his offspring, 

 and often cares for them while the female is busy with another nest. 



Rev. W. F. Henninger informs me that a German farmer of his acquaint- 

 ance near Tiffin kept a Cardinal in captivity fur almost exactly thirty years. 

 The bird was not taken from the nest by its long-time owner and its age 

 at the time it came into his possession was not known. The captive song- 

 ster became a great favorite and was fur years regarded almost as a member 

 of the family. Its death in December, 1002, followed within a day or so 

 that of the farmer's wife. 



No. 45- 



ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. 



A. O. U. Xo. 50.5. Zamelodia ludoviciana (Linn.j. 



Description. — Adult male : Head and neck all around and upper parts 

 glossy black ; below white ; a rich carmine or rose-red crescentic or shield-shaped 

 patch on the breast bordering the black of the throat, and produced irregularly 

 down the middle of the lower breast; lining of wings rose; middle coverts and 

 a large spot at base of primaries white; rump white; much concealed white on 

 cervix and back, and a slight fuscous edging of feathers; white blotches near 

 extremity of tail-feathers on three outer pairs ; flanks sometimes tawny, with 

 dusky streaking ; bill light or white ; oilmen much curved ; feet dark brown. 

 Adult female: Quite different; above dusky brown in streaks, with obscure 

 whitish median, and conspicuous white superciliary lines; feathers of crown and 

 back heavily edged with flaxen or huffy; coverts and inner quills merely tipped 

 with whitish ; wings and tail fuscous, lining of wing saffron-yellow, — no black 

 anywhere ; below white with slight buffy or tawny suffusion on sides, breast and 

 flanks ; sharply and finely streaked with dusky on sides of throat, breast and sides; 

 auriculars hair-brown; bill light brown; feet dusky. Young: Like female, the 

 males gradually acquiring adult characters and first known by rosy lining of 

 wings. Adult male, length, 7.75-8.50 ( 196.9-215.9) ; av. of six Columbus males: 



