XIV. 

 THE ROSY SHIELD. 



One of the most winning inhabitants of my 

 bird-room last winter bore on his snow-white 

 breast a pointed shield of beautiful rose-color, 

 and the same rich hue lined his wings. With 

 these exceptions his dress was of sober black 

 and white, though so attractively disposed that 

 he was an extremely pretty bird — the rose- 

 breasted grosbeak. 



Nor was beauty his only attraction ; he was a 

 peculiar character, in every way different from 

 his neighbors. He was dignified, yet his dig- 

 nity was not like that of a thrush ; he was 

 calm and cool, yet not after the manner of an 

 orchard oriole. He possessed a lovely gentle- 

 ness of disposition, and a repose of manner un- 

 paralleled among my birds. Vulgar restless- 

 ness was unknown to him ; flying about for 

 mere exercise, or hopping from perch to perch 

 to pass away time, he scorned. The frivolous 

 way common to smaller birds of going for each 



