]^02 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



This species has been traced as far to the west in its distribution as the 

 base of the Eocky Mountains, and into Mexico at the southwest. In Mexico 

 it is also replaced by a very closely allied variety, and at Cape St. Lucas by 

 still another. It is given by Mr. Lawrence among the birds occurring near 

 New York City. He has occasionally met with it in New Jersey and at 

 Staten Island, and, in one instance, on New York Island, when his attention 

 was attracted to it by the loudness of its song. 



It is given by Mr. Dresser as common throughout the whole of Texas 

 during the summer, and almost throughout the year, excepting only where 

 the P. sinuata is found. At Matamoras it was very common, and may be 

 seen caged in almost every Mexican hut. He found it breeding in great 

 abundance about San Antonio in April and May. 



Mr. Cassin states that the Cardinal Bird is also known by the name of 

 Virginia Nightingale. He adds that it inhabits, for the greater part, low and 

 damp woods in which there is a profuse undergrowth of bushes, and is par- 

 ticularly partial to the vicinity of watercourses. The male bird is rather 

 shy and careful of exposing himself. 



Wilson mentions that in the lower parts of the Southern States, in the 

 neighborhood of settlements, he found them more numerous than elsewhere. 

 Their clear and lively notes, even in the months of January and February, 

 were, at that season, almost the only music. Along the roadsides and fences 

 he found them hovering in small groups, associated with Snowbirds and 

 various kinds of Sparrows. Even in Pennsylvania they frequent the bor- 

 ders of creeks and rivulets during the whole year, in sheltered hollows, 

 covered with holly, laurel, and other evergreens. They are very fond of 

 Indian corn, a grain that is their favorite food. They are also said to feed 

 on various kinds of fruit. 



The males of this species, during the breeding season, are described as very 

 pugnacious, and when confined together in the same cage they fight violently. 

 The male bird has even been known to destroy its mate. In Florida Mr. 

 Audubon found these birds mated by the Sth of February. The nest is 

 built in bushes, among briers, or in low trees, and in various situations, the 

 middle of a field, near a fence, or in the interior of a thicket, and usually 

 not far from running water. It has even been placed in tlie garden close to 

 the planter's house. It is loosely built of dry leaves and twigs, with a large 

 proportion of dry grasses and strips of the bark of grapevines. Within, it is 

 finished and lined with finer stems of grasses wrought into a circular form. 

 There are usually two, and in the more Southern States three, broods in a 

 season. 



Mr. Audubon adds that they are easily raised from the nest, and have 

 been known to breed in confinement. 



The eggs of this species are of an oblong-oval shape, with but little differ- 

 ence at either end. Their ground-color appears to be white, but is generally 

 so thickly marked with spots of ashy-brown and faint lavender tints as to 



