102 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



This species has lieeii traced as far to the west in its distribution as tho 

 base of the Rocky Mountains, and into JVlexico at the southwest. In Mexico 

 it is also re])lace<l by a very ch)sely allied variety, and at ("ajie St, Lucas by 

 still anotlier. It is given by Mr. Lav.'rence among the birtls occurring near 

 Xew York City. He has occasionally met with it in New Jersey and at 

 Staten Island, and, in one in.stauce, on New York Island, when his attention 

 was attracted to it by the hnidness of its song. 



It is given by Mr. Dresser as common throughout the whole of Texas 

 during the summer, and almost throughout the year, excepting only where 

 the P. sinunta [f, iound. At Matamoras it was very common, and may be 

 seen caged in almost every Mexican hut. He found it breeding in great 

 abundance about San Antonio in April and j\Iay. 



Mr. Cassin states that the Cardinal Bird is also known by the name of 

 Virginia Nightingale. He adds that it inhabits, for the greater part, low and 

 damp woods in which there is a profuse undergrowth of bushes, and is par- 

 ticularly partial to the vicinity of watercourses. The male bird is rather 

 shy and careful of exposing himself 



Wilson mentions that in the lower parts of the Southern States, in the 

 neighborhood of settlements, he fomid them more numerous than elsewhere. 

 Their clear and lively notes, even in the months of January and February, 

 were, at that season, almost the only music. Along the roadsides and fences 

 he found them hovering in small groups, a.ssociatcd with Snowbirds and 

 various kintls of S[)arrows. I'^vcn in I'ennsylvanii they frequent the bor- 

 ders of creeks and rivulets during the whole year, in sheltered hollows, 

 covered with holly, laurel, and other evergreens. They are very fond of 

 Indian c(n'n, a grain that is their favorite food. They are also said to feed 

 on various kinds of fruit. 



The males of this species, during the breeding season, are described as very 

 pugnacious, and when confined together in the same cage they fight violently. 

 The male l)ird has even been known to destroy its mate. In Florida Mr. 

 Audubon found these birds mated Ity the 8th of February. The nest is 

 built in bushes, among briers, or in low trees, and in various situations, the 

 middle of a field, near a fence, or in the interior of a thicket, and usually 

 not far from rumiing water. It has even been placed in the garden close to 

 the planter's house. It is loosely built of dry leaves and twigs, with a large 

 proportion of dry grasses and strips of the bark of grajievines. Within, it is 

 finished and lined with finer stems of gra.s,ses wrought into a circular form. 

 There are usually two, and in the more Southern States three, broods in a 

 season. 



Mr. Audubon adds that they are easily raised from the nest, and have 

 been known to breed in confinement. 



The eggs of this species are of an oblong-oval shape, with but little differ- 

 ence at either end. Their ground-color appears to be white, but is generally 

 so thickly marked with spots of ashy-brown and faint lavender tints as to 



