ONTARIO. 



watch his motions for a little we may be favored with a glimpse 

 of the female stealing through the underbrush, but except under 

 such circumstances she is rarely seen. 



During the heat of summer the loud ringing " Towhee" which 

 has given the birds their common name is discontinued, and 

 they spend their time quietly in the shade. In September it is 

 again heard, perhaps as a bugle note to call the flocks together 

 before starting for the south. We have no record of any being 

 observed during winter. 



GENUS CARDINALIS BONAPARTE. 



227. CARDINALIS CARDINALIS (LINN.). 593. 



Cardinal. 



Male, rich vermillion or rosy-red, obscured with ashy on the back ; face 

 black ; bill reddish ; feet brown. Feir.ale, ashy-brown, paler below, with 

 evident traces of the red on the crest, wings, tail and under parts. Length, 

 8-9 ; wing, about 3! ; tail, 4. 



HAB. Eastern United States, north to New Jersey and the Ohio Valley 

 (casually farther), west to the Plains. 



Nest, in a bush or low tree near the ground, usually not far from water. 

 Composed of bark, leaves, grass and rootlets rather loosely put together. 



Eggs, 4 to 5 ; white, thickly spotted with dark reddish-brown often 

 wreathed round the larger end. 



The Cardinal can only be regarded as a casual visitor along 

 our south-western border. It is quite common in Ohio, and as 

 might be expected a few occasionally cross the lake. Mr. 

 Norval reports one or two being found at Port Rowan, and Dr. 

 Macallum mentions that a few are seen every summer along 

 the lake shore south of Dunnville, where they are supposed to 

 breed among the evergreens. They make showy, interesting 

 cage birds, on account of which great numbers are caught in 

 trap cages and sold in the southern markets. 



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