XIV. 

 THE ROSY SHIELD. 



ONE of the most winning inhabitants of my 

 bird-room last winter bore on his snow-white 

 breast a pointed shield of beautiful rose-color, 

 and the same rich hue lined his wings. With 

 these exceptions his dress was of sober black 

 and white, though so attractively disposed that 

 he was an extremely pretty bird the rose- 

 breasted grosbeak. 



Nor was beauty his only attraction ; he was a 

 peculiar character, in every way different from 

 his neighbors. He was dignified, yet his dig- 

 nity was not like that of a thrush; he was 

 calm and cool, yet not after the manner of an 

 orchard oriole. He possessed a lovely gentle- 

 ness of disposition, and a repose of manner un- 

 paralleled among my birds. Vulgar restless- 

 ness was unknown to him ; flying about for 

 mere exercise, or hopping from perch to perch 

 to pass away time, he scorned. The frivolous 

 way common to smaller birds of going for each 



