CARDINAL GROSnKAK. 



493 



from the weeds and sought shelter in these bushes. I went in pursuit of them in order to 

 iiscertain what they were, when my attention was attracted by a chirp not unlike that of 

 the Fox-colored Sparrow, yet it seemed sharper. I could not imagine what the author of 

 this cry could be, so advanced cautiously, at the same time peering into the undergrowth, 

 when suddenly a brightly colored bird dashed across a small opening, looking like a flash 

 of red light. I then recognized the Cardinal Grosbeak but was quite surprised to find that 

 they frequented low bushes. This, however, has been their habit wherever I have chanced 

 to meet them. On the Sea Islands they are common along the borders of the cotton fields 

 and were very alnimlant, late in October, in low luishes on the banks of the famous Deep 

 Cut of the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal. An apparent inclination to sociability causes 

 them to flock even during winter, on the approach of spring this feeling increases and large 

 numbers assemble in order to feed upon the newly ripened seeds of maple which are nearly 

 ready to fall early in February. I have seen upwards of twenty feeding on one small tree 

 and, as it was destitute of leaves, the brightly plumaged birds gave it a singular appear- 

 ance. When eating they are silent but never quiet, and while jumping from limb to limb, 

 clinging to the under side of a branch, or swinging from some topmost Ijough in order to 

 reach a tempting cluster of seeds, they assume various graceful positions. A little later 

 in the season they may be seen searching for seeds and insects on the ground, for which 

 purpose they frequently scratch among the fallen leaves after the manner of the Towhee 

 Bunting. 



All through the winter they ai'e comparatively silent, but when the jasiminc begins 

 to show its yellov/ flowers and the air is fragrant with its perfume, the full, clear notes of 

 the Cardinal may be heard fi'om morning until evening. Their excoedin^ly fine song and 

 brilliant plumage attracts universal attention and consequently the Red Birds, as they arc 

 always ctilled in the South, are general favorites. Confident of not being disturbed they 

 build their nests near dwellings, in fact, like the Mocking Birds, they appear to seek the 

 presence of man as a protection from natural enemies, and thus are randy found in unin- 

 habited sections. 



In Florida the nests arc frequently placed in orange trees about five feet from the 

 ground. The eggs are deposited about the middle of April when the orange blossoms are 

 filling the air with their delightful odor. The females sit very closely and I have nearly 

 placed my hand on them before they would fly. There were never over three eggs in the 

 nests which I found in Florida but further north tliey lay four as a regular number. This 

 circumstance would, at first thought, seem to indicate that the Cardinals of Florida posses 

 less vigor, l)ut I think it is rather due to the fact that they breed oftener than those fur- 

 ther north. The eggs arc also larger. Both sexes exhibit great solicitude on being dis- 

 turbed when breeding, uttering their sharp cry of alarm which causes all the birds of the 

 same species in the immediate vicinity to assemljle. Then in a few moments one will be 

 .surrounded by quite a quantity of the red-plumaged Cardinals. There are always numbers 

 within call as they breed in communities, and I have fiund at least a dozen nests in one 

 small grove. The assembled Cardinals will hop restlessly about, with crests elevated, 

 showing the utmost sympathy for the pair that arc in trouble. This fellow feeling is not 

 oidy evinced during the breeding season but this bird is one of the most compassionate that 



