('^ CARDINAL GROSBEAK. 



Genus CARDINALS. Cardinalis. 



Large birds, over eight inches long, with thick bills, crest- 

 ed heads, and bright colors. The wings are rounded, and are 

 considerably shorter than the rounded tail. We have one 

 species with sexes dissimilar. 



Cardinal Grosbeak. 



Cardinalis virginianus, 

 PIateXVII,Fig. 1. 



Male, bright vermillion red, duller on back, wings and tail ; 

 line at base of bill, chin and throat black. Bill, yellowish red. 

 Female has the wings and tail as in the male, and the vermil- 

 lion above is replaced by yellowish brown, iind beneath by 

 red. The black of the head is less extended. Young birds 

 are duller. 



Dimensions. Length, 8.40; stretch, 11.00; wing, 3.35; 

 tail, 4.40 ; bill, .87 ; tarsus, .99. 



Comparisons. Readily known by the large size, crested 

 head, thick, red bill and vermillion color. 



Nests and Eggs. Nests placed in trees. They are rather 

 compact, but shallow structures, composed of weeds, leaves 

 and Spanish moss, lined with fine grass. They are about 

 four and a half inches in diameter, with a depth of two in- 

 ches. Eggs, three or four in number, elliptical in form, ashy- 

 white in color, spotted, blotched and dotted irregularly with 

 reddish brown and lilac. Dimensions, 1.00 by .80. 



General Habits. The well known Cardinal is a rare 

 visitor to extreme southern New England ; it breeds regular- 



