150 CARDINAL GROSBEAK. 



small families of five to seven, consisting 

 of the young birds of the preceding spring 

 and their parents. In the breeding season, 

 like all others of the Finch tribe, they are 

 perfectly solitary. 



The Virginian Nightingale, as he is 

 styled in England and in some parts of the 

 Southern States, is nearly the size of the 

 Robin, and of a brilliant scarlet, which is 

 much brighter upon its breast and belly. 

 His head is ornamented with a lofty crest, 

 which is raised or depressed at pleasure, 

 while his bill, which is large and powerful, 

 is a soft and beautiful coral-red. The 

 only colour on his person differing from 

 the rest, and which is thrown into strong 

 relief by the brilliancy of his other plum- 

 age, is a circle of deep black passing 

 completely round his head at the base of 

 the bill. His eye is very expressive and 

 of a dark hazel, while his form is perfect 

 and graceful to a degree. 



The song of the Cardinal, which even 

 in confinement is continued for six or eight 



