72 NOETH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Sir John Eichardson met with a single specimen of this bird near the 

 Saskatchewan during his first expedition witli Sir John Franklin, but did not 

 afterwards meet with it. He states that it frequents the deep recesses of 

 the forests, and there sings a clear, mellow, and harmonious song. 



Nuttall appears to have seen little or nothing of this bird, except in con- 

 finement. He describes it as thriving very well in a cage, and as a melodious 

 and indefatigable warbler, frequently passing the greater part of the night in 

 singing, with great variety of tones. It is said, while thus earnestly engaged, 

 to mount on tiptoe, as if seemingly in an ecstasy of enthusiasm and delight 

 at the unrivalled harmony of its own voice. These notes, he adds, are 

 wholly warbled, now loud and clear, now with a querulous and now with a 

 sprightly air, and finally lower and more pathetic. In Mr. Nuttall's opinion 

 it has no superior in song, except tlie Mocking-Bird. 



Mr. Say met with these birds in the spring, on the banks of the Missouri, 

 and afterwards, on the 5th of August, at Pembina in the 49th degree of 

 latitude. 



This bird arrives in Eastern Massachusetts about the loth of May, and 

 leaves in September. It nests during the first week in June. 



Mr. Audubon states that he has frequently observed this species, early in 

 the month of March, in the lower parts of Louisiana, making its way east- 

 ward, and has noticed the same circumstance both at Henderson, Ky., and at 

 Cincinnati, 0. At this period it passes at a considerable height in the air. 

 He never saw it in the maritime parts of Georgia or Carolina, but they have 

 been procured in the mountainous parts of those States. On the banks of 

 the Schuylkill, early in May, he has observed this bird feeding on the tender 

 buds of the trees. When in Texas, in 18137, Mr. Audubon also found it very 

 abundant in April. 



Dr. Bachman, quoted by Audubon, states that, having slightly wounded a 

 beautiful male of this species, he kept it three years in confinement. It very 

 soon became quite tame, fed, in an open room, on moistened bread. It was 

 at once reconciled to live in a cage, and fed readily on various kinds of food, 

 but preferred Indian meal and hemp-seed. It was also very fond of in- 

 sects, and ate grasshoppers and crickets with peculiar relish. It watched the 

 flies with great apparent interest, and often snatched at and secured the 

 wasps that ventured within its cage. During bright moonshiny nights it 

 sang sweetly, but not loudly, remaining in the same position on its perch. 

 When it sang in the daytime it was in the habit of vibrating its wings, in 

 the manner of the Mocking-Bird. It was a lively and a gentle companion 

 for three years, but suffered from cold in severe wintry weather, and finally 

 died from this cause. It would frequently escape from its cage, and never 

 exhibited the least desire to leave him, but always returned to the house at 

 night. It sang about eight weeks, and the rest of the year had only a faint 

 chuck. 



This Grosbeak builds in low trees on the edge of woods, frequently in. 



