326 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



question that the species occasionally comes into the western part of New 

 York State. It is possible that it breeds in Chautauqua county, as Miss 

 Sarah Waite reports that she has seen it near the shore of Lake Erie through- 

 out the summer, under circumstances which made her certain it was 

 breeding in the vicinity. It is probable that the nonmigratory habit 

 of this bird is largely responsible for its not becoming commoner in southern 

 New York. What few specimens are raised in the State are likely to be 

 killed during the shooting season in late fall or during the winter months, 

 their conspicuous appearance and notes attracting the attention of every- 

 one that passes by. They learn, however, to be very secretive in habits, 

 and if dense swamps and thickets of brush and small trees were common, 

 there is little doubt that it would become much more plentiful on Staten 

 Island, Long Island, and in the lower Hudson valley. The nature of the 

 country in Rockland county is more favorable to it, and there it is well 

 established. If the residents of localities where the bird is beginning to 

 appear could protect it thoroughly, there is no doubt that it would be able 

 to remain throughout the winter and become more abundant, especially 

 if fruit trees and plants which retain their seeds were planted in the 

 thickets. 



The song of the Cardinal is " a loud clear whistle into which usually 

 enters quite frequently the sound of Q! Q! Q!, and a peculiar long-drawn-out 

 e-e! sometimes syllabled as 'three cheers'" (Chapman). Its call note is 

 an abrupt tsip. The nest is composed of twigs, rootlets, weed stalks and 

 strips of bark, usually placed in thick bushes. The eggs are 3 or 4, pale 

 bluish-white, speckled with brown and grayish; average size 1 by .7 

 inches. 



