ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. 87 



"And there a song-bird built his nest, 

 Of slender twigs and moss and clay, 

 And trilled from out his carmine breast, — 

 His happy breast, — 



The livelong day." 



The Rose-breasted Grosbeak, though a very 

 elegant bird, is but little known ; yet few of our 

 domestic birds much surpass him in sweetness of 

 song, or beauty of plumage. He sings by night as 

 well as by day, and the notes are very clear and mel- 

 low. His great rarity accounts for the fact that he 

 is so seldom seen caged ; yet no bird can be more 

 highly prized ; the bright carmine breast, and deep 

 black and snowy white body, forming such a rich 

 contrast. Caged, he becomes very tame in a short 

 space of time, and, being well contented in confine- 

 ment, lives many years. He usually keeps in the 

 best of health if fed upon nothing but canary-seed. 

 If hemp or unhuUed rice (unless necessary) is fed, 

 he will eat until it is with difficulty that he can move 

 from the bottom of the cage. 



