146 CARDINAL GROSBEAK. 



variety of note, and the little expense with which he is kept, 

 will always make him a favourite. 



This species, like the Mocking-bird, is more numerous to 

 the east of the great range of the Alleghany mountains ; and 

 inhabits from New England to Carthagena. Michaux the youn- 

 ger, son to the celebrated botanist, informed me, that he found 

 this bird numerous in the Bermudas. In Pennsylvania and the 

 northern states it is rather a scarce species; but through the 

 whole lower parts of the southern states, in the neighbourhood 

 of settlements, I found them much more numerous; their clear 

 and lively notes, in the months of January and February, being, 

 at that time, almost the only music of the season. Along the 

 road sides and fences I found them hovering in half dozens to- 

 gether, associated with snow birds and various kinds of spar- 

 rows. In the northern states they are migratory; but in the 

 lower parts of Pennsylvania they reside during the whole year, 

 frequenting the borders of creeks and rivulets, in sheltered hol- 

 lows covered with holly, laurel, and other evergreens. They 

 love also to reside in the vicinity of fields of Indian corn, a grain 

 that constitutes their chief and favourite food. The seeds of ap- 

 ples, cherries, and of many other sorts of fruit, are also eaten 

 by them; and they are accused of destroying bees. 



In the months of March and April the males have many vio- 

 lent engagements for their favourite females. Early in May in 

 Pennsylvania they begin to prepare their nest, which is very 

 often fixed in a hollow, cedar or laurel bush. Outwardly it is 

 constructed of small twigs, tops of dry weeds, and slips of vine 

 bark, and lined with stalks of fine grass. The female lays four 

 eggs thickly marked all over with touches of brownish olive, 

 on a dull white ground, as represented in the figure; and they 

 usually raise two brood in the season. These birds are rarely 

 raised from the nest for singing, being so easily taken in trap 

 cages, and soon domesticated. By long confinement, and per- 

 haps unnatural food, they are found to fade in colour, becoming 

 of a pale whitish red. If well taken care of, however, they will 

 live to a considerable age. There is at present in Mr. Peale's 



