388 RELATIONS OF BIRDS TO AGRICULTURE 



and white coloration, and by the beautiful rose coloring of the 

 breast and under sides of wings. The female is brownish or oliva- 

 ceous, the rose on the male's wings being replaced by yellow. 

 As the name indicates, the bill is strikingly large and, even without 

 the above colors, would be sufficient to distinguish this bird from 

 many others. 



This grosbeak is about eight inches long. It nests from five 

 to fifteen feet or more from the ground. The four or five eggs are 

 light blue, with irregular brownish markings. 



Benefits. The species migrates to Mexico and is found breed- 

 ing as far north as southern Canada. Throughout its range it is 

 a help to the agriculturist. It occasionally eats peas and a little 

 fruit, but consumes an enormous number of potato beetles, as 

 well as striped cucumber beetles. It is reputed as attacking scale 

 insects, and the writer has seen it foraging for grasshoppers. Can- 

 ker worms, tent caterpillars, army worms, cut worms, chinch 

 bugs, and others are known to be included in its dietary. 



Cardinal, Red-Bird, or Virginia Cardinal. This brilliant, 

 crested singer, about eight inches long, is common in parts of the 

 South, as well as resident in the middle states. It sometimes 

 surprises us by being seen in the more northern latitudes. Strangely 

 enough, it has been observed in Iowa and Minnesota in winter. 

 This bird, in places, is known as the cardinal grosbeak. It has the 

 habits of others of the grosbeak group. Two or three broods are 

 produced hi the South. 



It is frequently seen in cages and makes a contented captive. 

 The bright red of the body of the male contrasts sharply with the 

 deep black about the red bill and on the throat. The female is 

 brownish, inclined to ash, with indications of red, which color is 

 quite pronounced on the crest and on wings and tail. 



The Purple Finch. Carpodacus purpureus, and calif ornicus, 

 its Pacific coast variety, are worthy of discussion in this treatise. 

 The. males have brown coats washed with crimson. They arc 

 beautiful singers, but both the eastern and western varieties some- 

 times cut blossoms from fruit trees, and on the Pacific coast are 

 particularly troublesome in this regard. The writer has seen the 

 ground beneath fruit trees in Oregon strewn with fallen blossoms 

 as the result of this bird's activity. A. R. Woodcock, of Corvallis, 

 Oregon, has this to say of this bird (Ore. Bui. 68) : 



"Very abundant during March, April, and the early part of 

 May. They sometimes become a nuisance by reason of their 



