FEINGILLID^ — THE FINCHES. IQI 



Most North American specimens we have seen have the feathers of the back 

 edged with ashy ; the more northern the less brightly colored, and larger. 

 Mexican skins (var. coccineus) are deeper colored and without the olivaceous. 

 In all specimens from eastern North America the frontal black is very 

 distinct. 



Specimens from the Eastern Province of United States, including Florida 

 and the Bermudas, are all alike in possessing those features distinguishing 

 the restricted var. viryinianus from the races of Mexico, namely, the wide 

 black frontal band, and distinct gray edges to dorsal feathers, with small bill. 

 Specimens from Florida are scarcely smaller, and are not more deeply 

 colored than some examples from Southern Illinois. Piio Grande skins, 

 however, are slightly less in size, though identical in other respects. 



Habits. The Cardinal Grosbeak, the Eedbird of the Southern States, is 

 one of our few birds that present the double attraction of a brilliant and 

 showy plumage with more than usual powers of song. In New England 

 and the more northern States it is chiefly known by its reputation as a 

 cage-bird, both its bright plumage and its sweet song giving it a high value. 

 It is a very rare and only an accidental visitor of Massachusetts, though a 

 pair was once known to spend the summer and to rear its brood in the 

 Botanical Gardens of Harvard College in Cambridge. It is by no means a 

 common bird even in Pennsylvania. In all the Southern States, from Vir- 

 ginia to Mexico, it is a well-known favorite, frequenting gardens and planta- 

 tions, and even breeding within the limits of the larger towns and cities. 

 A single specimen of this bird was obtained near Duenas, Guatemala, by 

 Mr. Salvin. 



The song of this Grosbeak is diversified, pleasant, and mellow, delivered 

 with energy and ease, and renewed incessantly until its frequent repetitions 

 somewhat diminish its charms. Its peculiar whistle is not only loud and 

 clear, resembling the finest notes of the flageolet, but is so sweet and so 

 varied tliat by some writers it has been considered equal even to the notes 

 of the far-famed Nightingale of Europe. It is, however, very far from 

 being among our best singers ; yet, as it is known to remain in full song 

 more than two thirds of the year, and while thus musical to be constant 

 and liberal in the utterance of its sweet notes, it is entitled to a conspicuous 

 place among our singing birds. 



In its cage life the Cardinal soon becomes contented and tame, and will 

 live many years in confinement. Wilson mentions one instance in which a 

 Eedbird was kept twenty-one years. They sing nearly throughout the year, 

 or from January to October. In the extreme Southern States they are more 

 or less resident, and some may be found all the year round. There is an- 

 other remarkable peculiarity in this species, and one very rarely to be met 

 with among birds, which is that the female Cardinal Grosbeak is an ex- 

 cellent singer, and her notes are very nearly as sweet and as good as those 

 of her mate. 



