i100 THE ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. 
wing 3.95 (100.3) ; tail 2.84 (72.1) ; bill, length, .66 (16.8) ; bill, depth, .51 (13.). 
Female somewhat smaller. 
Recognition Marks.—Chewink size; male easily known by the black, car- 
mine, and white of fore-front; female by large bill with white eye-brow, sharply 
streaked breast, and general streaky appearance above. 
Nest, oftenest a careless bunch of grass-stems or weed-stalks, but sometimes 
carefully constructed, in bushes of thickets or in low trees. Eggs, 3 or 4, dull 
greenish, spotted and blotched with reddish browns. Av. size, 1.00 x .73 (25.4 X 
18.5). 
General Range.—E astern United States and southern Canada, west to Mani- 
toba and the eastern border of the Plains, breeding from [kansas and the moun- 
tains of the Carolinas northward; south in winter to Cuba, Central America, and 
northern South America. 
Range in Ohio.—A regular, but not very common summer resident; less 
common or wanting in southern part of state. 
WE are none of us likely to forget our first meeting with this distin- 
guished bird. It was probably on a perfect morning early in May, when 
we were poking about in a brushy patch near the river, all on the qui vive 
with the spring expectancy. Thkimp! What was that? Thkimp! again 
the nasal explosive, half inquiring, half disturbed. Ah, there he is, quitting 
cover for a bunch of leafless weed-stalks that he may for a moment see and 
be seen. “What a beauty!” we exclaim, ‘‘and to come so far north!” For 
we feel instinctively that we are beholding a scion of tropical stock. And 
such indeed he is, altho he has long since become naturalized in the middle 
north and Canada. 
Yet for all he is a northern pioneer, he is no mere adventurer. His 
every movement betrays the culture of good breeding and conscious quality. 
His dress, too, is faultless, as becomes a perfect gentleman. A black suit 
with white cuffs;—or maybe several pairs, no matter—an immaculate white 
vest, and an ample red cravat, all complete. His wife will not be along fon 
a few days yet; that is, not until the head of the expected family has done 
the rough work of pioneering; and when she does come you will not know 
her for the mate of such a brilliant lord, until you catch them one day ex- 
changing confidences, sotto voce. 
During migrations this Grosbeak often keeps to the highest tree-tops 
where his bright colors almost escape notice amidst the newly bursting ver- 
dure; but he is most at home in second-growth thickets and swampy tangles. 
In either case he sings freely, a rich, rolling, continuous warble, which is 
among the finest of woodland notes. The song is most nearly comparable 
to that of the Scarlet Tanager, but it is to be distinguished by its rounder 
quality and the entire absence of phrasing. When singing to his mate the 
bird sometimes stands on tiptoe with excitement, and makes the thickets 
vibrate with long-drawn melody. Sometimes, especially if you are known 
