492 CAIiDINALIS VIRGlNlANUSi. 



Tlie Fox-colored Sparrows (lo})03it their e,2;gs about the List week in Jmie, and tlit. 

 yonng accompany the adults in August, migrating with them in large, straggling flocks-- 

 later in the season. This species has been found in Florida but twice to my knowledge,, 

 both times by Mr. Boardman. They are quite common in the Carolinas, however, where 

 they remain until about the first of March, when they i-eturn northward in company with, 

 other Sparrows. 



GENUS XI. C'ARDINALIS. TIIE CARDINAL GROSBEAKS. 



Gen. Cii. Bill, thick, ujiprr mandihic slii/ht/y curved. Win(/s, a liltle shorter than the tail, whicli is considcrahly- 

 rounded. Sternum, stout, with the eoracoids much shorter than the top of the keel lohich is almost as hi(jh as one half the 

 length of the coracoids. Head, crested. Size, larijc. 



The males of all the species are bvi^'ht iu eolor, hut the females are duller. They are not streaked below. No promi- 

 nent lines over the eye or ■virhite markini;s on the tail. 



CARDinALIS VIKGINIANUS. 



Cardinal Grocboak. 

 Cardina/is Virijinianus Hos., hist, 1838. 



DESCRIl'TION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, very njljust. Si.'.c, large. Tongue, very fleshy, triangular in form but provided with the terminal 

 hair-like fibers. Crest, pointed. 



Color. Adult male. Bright vcri:iilion-red, duller on the back, wings, and tail. Inner webs of wing feathers, dark- 

 brown. Lores, line at base of bill, chin, and throat, black. Bill, coral-red. Feet, brown. 



Adult female. Wings and tail similar to those ui the males, remaining upjjer portions are yellowLsh-brown. Beneatli, 

 yellowish-rufuus, lighter on the alidom^'n. There are traces of vei-milion on the throat and upper breast. Under wing cov- 

 erts, vermilion and the crest is tinged with it. Bill and feet as itt the male. The black markings of the head and throa t 

 are considerably paler. 



Younfj. Are duller. The males are overwashed on the back with olivaceous and the females show no traces of ver- 

 milion on the lower parts. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



This well marked species may be recognized at once by the descri]ition as given. There is a general uniformity of col- 

 oration but specimens fi-inn Virginia are mudi jialer tlnm those fmm Florida. l)istril>utcd throughout the Eastern section 

 of the United States from the latitude of Virginia southward. Not migratory. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurement" of thirty-seven, specimens from Florida. Length, 8-39; stretcli, 10-95; wing, 3-5.'); tail, 4-40; 

 bill, -87; tarsus, -90. Longest specimen, 9-00; greatest extent of wing, 11-75; longest wing, 3-85; tail, 4-30; bill, -95; tai-sus, 

 ■72. Shortest specimen, 8-75; smallest extent of wing, 10-25; shortest wing, 3-30; tail, 3-50; bill, -80; tarsus, -75. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, ]ilaced in trees. Tliey are rather comjiact structures, composed of weeds, leaves, and Spanish moss, lineil with 

 fine grass. Dimensions; external diameter, 4-00, iutcrruxl, 2-75. External depth, 2-00, internal, I'OO. 



Efjijs, three or four in nuuiber, cllij)tical in form, ashj'-white in color, spotted, blotched, and dotted, irregularly with 

 reddLsh-lirown and lilac. Dimensions frcjiu 1-00 s -80 to 1-05 x -78. 



HABITS. 

 The plantations of Florida .are usually bordered with quite low shrubbery but it grows 

 very luxuriantly and is often filled with briers or other climbing jilants, the whole forming 

 dense thickets which are exceedingly difficult to penetrate. As a natural result, all of these 

 ta,ngled copses form fastnesses for many of the birds which feed in the adjacent grounds. 

 The first time I entered a field in the South a cloud of Sparrows of several species arose 



