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$ature. 283 



The CARDINAL GROSBEAK. (Cardinalis 

 Virginia IMS ; Loxia cardinalis of Linnaeus.) 

 This species, which is sometimes called 

 the Cardinal-bird, is eight inches in 

 length. The general plumage is a fine red : 

 the bill pale red, and stout : 011 the head is 

 a crest ; and round the bill, and on the 



the principal material they employ for the 

 purpose of erecting this extraordinary work, 

 as well as for additions and repairs. Though 



trunks prevents the birds from being at- 

 tacked by monkeys and other noxious ani- 

 mals. The method in which their nests are 

 made is very curious. On one tree there 

 could not be less than from eight hundred 

 to a thousand under one general roof. I 

 call it a roof, because it resembles that of a 

 thatched house, and projects over the en- 

 trance of the nest below in a very singular 

 manner. The industry of these birds seems 

 almost equal to that of the bee. Throughout 

 the day they appear to be busily employed 

 in carrying a fine species of grass, which is 

 ^loy for the 

 inary work, 

 rs. Though 



my short stay in the country was not suffi- 

 cient to satisfy me by ocular proof that they 

 added to their nest as they annually in- 

 creased in numbers ; still, from the many 

 trees which I have seen borne down by the 

 weight, and others which I have observed 

 with their boughs completely covered over, 

 it would appear that this is really the case. 

 When the tree, which is the support of this 

 aerial city, is obliged to give way to the in- 

 crease of weight, it is obvious that they are 

 no longer protected, and are under the ne- 

 cessity of rebuilding in other trees. One of 

 these deserted nests I had the curiosity to 

 break down to inform myself of the internal 

 structure of it : and found it equally inge- 



. , nious with the external. There are many 



and during the spring and summer its sweet I entrances, each of which forms a regular 

 notes are heard from the tops of the highest I street, with nests on both sides, at about two 



CARDINAI, 

 (OABDINALIS 



1RGINIAND8,) 



throat, the colour is black : the quill and 

 tail feathers is not of so bright a red as the 

 body. The song of the Cardinal Grosbeak 

 very much resembles that of the nightingale, 



trees. It is met with in several parts 

 North America : and is said to collect toge- 

 ther great quantities of maize and buck- 

 wheat, of which it is very fond. 



The BLUE GROSBEAK (Guiraca cceruled) 



inches distance from each other. The grass 

 with which they build is called the Bosh- 

 man's-grass : and I believe the seed of it to 

 be their principal food ; though, on examin- 

 ing t heir nests, I found the wings and legs 

 of different insects. From every appearance 



is about six inches in length; the bill strong, j the nest which x disgected had been inha- 

 thick at the base, sharp-pointed, and of a bited for m and Bome ^ of u 



cith 



black feathers : quills and tail brown, with 

 a mixture of green ; wing coverts with a red 

 band ; all the rest of the plumage blue : 

 legs dusky. It is sometimes found entirely 

 blue, except a black spot between the beak 

 and eye. This species is a native of Brazil. 



We might give many more specimens of 

 the Grosbeak genus, if the descriptions were 

 likely to afford matter of an interesting 

 character ; and we may also observe that 

 the most important species will be found 

 under other well-known names, as the Bull- 

 finch, Greenfinch, &c. But there is one, 

 called the Sociable Grosbeak, whose habits 

 are worthy of particular notice ; and with 

 this species we shall conclude : 



The SOCIABLE GROSBEAK. (Philetazrus 

 socivs.) This bird, which is about the size of a 

 Bullfinch, and whose prevailing colour is a 

 rufous brown, inhabits the interior country 

 at the Cape of Good Hope, where it was first 

 discovered by Mr. Paterson, who gives the 

 following history of it. "Few species of 

 birds live together in such large societies, or 

 have such an extraordinary mode of nidifi- 

 cation as these : they build their nests on 

 the Mimosa trees, which grow to a very 

 large size, and appear to be well calculated , 

 for the purpose, as the smoothness of their | Listen} makes a burrow, generally, about 



were much more complete than others. 

 This, therefore, I conceive to amount nearly 

 to a proof that the animals added to it at 

 different times, as they found necessary from 

 the increase of the family, or rather of the 

 nation or community." 



GROUND PIG. (Aulacodw Swinderia- 

 nus.) The name of a South African Rodent 

 belonging to the sub-family Echimyna: it 

 gets its name from its burrowing habits. 



GROUND SQUIRREL. (Tamias.) A 

 genus of Rodent mammalia allied to the true 

 Squirrels, but distinguished from them by ' 

 the possession of cheek-pouches, and their 

 habit of retreating into subterraneous holes. 



The STRIPED GROUND SQUIRREL (Tamias 

 striatus) is a very small species, inhabiting 

 the vicinity of the Rocky Mountains. The 

 general colour is reddish above, mixed with 

 black, and whitish beneath, with four broad 

 white lines on the back. It has not been 

 observed to ascend trees, but nestles in holes, 

 or on the edges of rocks ; and the nest is 

 composed of a most extraordinary quantity 

 of vegetable substances. Its principal food 

 seems to consist of the seeds of the pine. 



LISTER'S GROUND SQUIRREL (Tamias 



