Cardinal Grosbeak 135 



days old. They were very tame, even affection- 

 ate toward him, hopping over his shoulders, head, 

 knees, and hands without the least fear, and 

 eating from his fingers. When only ten weeks 

 old the little boy grosbeaks began to warble. 

 On being released to pick up their own living 

 in the garden, these pets repaid their foster^ 

 father by eating quantities of potato-bugs, 

 among other pests. Some people call this 

 grosbeak the potato-bug bird. 



CARDINAL GROSBEAK 



Called also : Crested Redhird: Virginia NighU 



ingale. 



It was on a cold January day in Central Park, 

 New York, that I first met a cardinal and was 

 warmed by the sight. Then I supposed that he 

 must have escaped from a cage, for he is un- 

 common north of Washington. With tail and 

 crest erect, he was hopping about rather clumsily 

 on the ground near the bear's cage, and 

 picking up bits of broken peanuts that had 

 missed their mark. Presently a dove-coloured 

 bird, lightly washed with dull red, joined him 

 and I guessed by her crest that she must be 

 his mate. Therefore both birds were per- 

 manent residents in the park and not escaped 

 pets. Although they look as if they belonged 



