FINCHES. 3 8i 



loosely interlaced, the inner more compactly woven, with a tolerably firm brim of 

 circularly disposed fibres. Sometimes there is a little horsehair lining, oftener not. 

 The eggs are of a light and rather pale green colour, profusely speckled with dull 

 reddish brown." The summer range of this grosbeak extends to Labrador. The 

 general colour of the adult male is black above ; the lower back and rump being 

 pure white, slightly mottled with black tips ; the wings black, with the secondaries 

 tipped with white ; the tail-feathers black, the three outer ones marked with white, 

 on the inner web; the crown of the head, lores, the sides of the neck, and throat 

 are black : the fore-neck and chest are beautified with a large patch of rose-colour, 

 extending in a line down the centre of the breast; the breast and flanks are white, 

 tlie thighs spotted with black; and the under wing-coverts rose-colour. This 

 beautiful dress is only gradually assumed, three years being needed for the assump- 

 tion of the perfect adult male plumage. 



The red cardinals have the bill very large and stout, pointed, and 

 conical ; the wings very short and rounded, and the tail longer than the 

 wings, ami rounded; while a long crest is present. They offer an instance, not very 

 common among birds, of a group in which the males are nearly all alike, so that the 

 specific characters depend upon the females. There can, however, be no doubt about 

 the differences in the latter; although the males differ from one another mainly in 

 intensity of colour, and to a slight extent in sizes. The most brilliant forms appear 

 to be those from tropical localities. These birds are found in the United States, 

 ranging south into Mexico and British Honduras. One of the best known of North 

 American birds is the common red cardinal, or Virginian nightingale (CardinoMs 

 virginianus). Dr. Coues says that this cardinal inhabits by choice, thickets, 

 tangle, and undergrowth of all kinds, whence issue its rich, rolling, whistling 

 notes, while the performer, brightly clad as he is, often eludes observation by his 

 shyness, vigilance, and activity. The nest, built loosely of bark-strips, twigs, leaves, 

 and grasses, is placed in a bush-vine or low, thick tree; and in this the cardinal 

 lays rather a peculiar egg, some specimens recalling those of a night-hawk's, in 

 coloration at least, while others are more like those of the rose-breasted grosbeak in 

 the pattern of markings. While the ground-colour was white in all of about fifty 

 cases noticed, the spotting is of every shade of brown, from pale reddish to heavy 

 chocolate : but it is usually rather dark, and there is a great show of the various 

 purplish brown or stone-grey markings. The typical form of the Virginian 

 nightingale ranges westward from the Eastern United States to Kansas, Nebraska, 

 the Indian Territory, and Texas ; where it may be either stationary or slightly 

 migratory. A smaller form is found in Eastern Mexico, which is a deeper red, being 

 of a rich rosy scarlet. The Californian form has a larger bill than the type, and is 

 rather smaller in size ; the black mask on the face not being continued across the 

 forehead. From Western Mexico there comes a form similar to the last, but smaller, 

 and of a much more rosy red, the crest feathers being elongated and stiffened. The 

 adult male of the typical form is deep scarlet- vermilion, or rosy-red above, with the 

 forehead, chin, and upper throat black ; the wings dusky, externally rosy, and the 

 under surface rich vermilion. The female is dull ochreous brown above ; the long, 

 crested feathers, wings, and tail being dull vermilion, and the under -parts buff, 

 washed with vermilion. 



