The Cardinal at the Hub 



BY ELLA GILBERT IVES 



With Photographs from nature by Blanche Kendall 



t/ \ ^ T T "'^"' I'ange being southern, Cardinal Grosbeak seldom 

 \/'/ ]J^ X~L travels through New England ; and, to my knowl- 

 / Y Vf^(\V^^K^t--^^-<^ edge, has never established a home and reared a 

 J 7^>^'^'>'\^ ' family north of Connecticut until in the instance 

 X.jC^T •■■ here recorded. Kentuckians claim him, and with some show 

 /f (^-^ of right, since James Lane Allen built his monument in imper- 

 ishable prose. Bnt, soon or late, all notables come to Boston, and 

 among them may now be registered the " Kentucky Cardinal." 



Shy by nature, conspicuous in plumage, he shuns publicity ; and, 

 avoiding the main lines of travel, he put up at a quiet country house 

 in a Boston suburb — Brookline. 



Here, one October day in 1897, among the migrants stopping at 

 this half-way house, appeared a distinguished guest, clad in red, with 

 a black mask, a light red bill, and a striking crest ; with him a bird 

 so like him that they might have been called the two Dromios. After 

 a few days, the double passed on and left our hero the only red-coat in 

 the field. A White-throated Sparrow now arrived from the moun- 

 tains, and a Damon and Pythias friendship sprang up between the 

 birds. Having decided to winter at the North, they took lodgings in 

 a spruce tree, and came regularly to the table d'hote on the porch. 

 My lord Cardinal, being the more distinguished guest, met with par- 

 ticular favor, and soon became welcome at the homes of the neighbor- 

 hood. With truly catholic taste, he refused creature comforts from 

 none, but showed preference for his first abode. 



It was March 5, i8g8, when we kept our first appointment with 

 the Cardinal. A light snow had fallen during the night, and the air 

 was keen, without premonition of spring. It was a day for home- 

 keeping birds, the earth larder being closed. The most delicate tact 

 was required in presenting strangers. A loud, clear summons, — the 

 Cardinal's own whistle echoed by human lips — soon brought a re- 

 sponse. Into the syringa bush near the porch flew, with a whir and a 

 sharp /si/>, a bird. How gorgeous he Jooked in the snow-laden shrub ! 

 For an instant the syringa blossoms loaded the air with fragrance as a 

 dream of summer floated by. Then a call to the porch was met by 

 several sallies and quick retreats, while the wary bird studied the 

 newcomers. Reassuring tones from his gentle hostess, accompanied 

 by the rattle of nuts and seeds, at last prevailed, and the Cardinal 

 flew to the railing and looked us over with keen, inquiring eye. Con- 



(83) 



