156 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. 



margined with white. His breast is of a 

 brilliant rose-carmine colour, which passes 

 in the shape of a cone nearly down to the 

 vent; and the entirety of the inner wing- 

 coverts is of a beautiful bright rose. The 

 bill is of a soft flesh-white. The female 

 is of a dusky colour; but, as she is worth- 

 less for song, need not be fully described. 



His song, which is continued in clear 

 weather during the whole of the day, is 

 melodious and brilliant beyond descrip- 

 tion, and is given in a warbling manner, 

 now loud, clear and distinct, then falling 

 into the most tender, low and pathetic 

 sweetness, again changing into the most 

 empassioned sprightliness, and abounding 

 in all the tender, mild and touching tones 

 of the English Nightingale. In fact, with 

 the single exception of our Mocking-bird, 

 he is the prince of songsters. 



In the cage, where he is only occasion- 

 ally met with, he is one of the most deli- 

 cious of songsters, thriving as well and 

 even better than the Cardinal Grosbeak, 



