56 The Ottawa Naturalist. 



sequestered parts of the woods. The eggs number trom three 

 to four, and are of a dull blue colour, spotted with two or three 

 shades of brown or purple. The brood is fledged early in July 

 if no accident occurs, and they leave for the south the middle or 

 end of August. 



Not so brilliantly coloured as that of the tanager and gold- 

 §nch, but lovely in another way, is the plumage of the rose- 

 breasted gross-beak, black, white and rose-pink being his 

 eolours. Black head, back and tail, black and white wings with 

 a touch of pink in the linings, white belly and front up to where 

 it reaches the clear bright pink of the breast, this is the striking 

 combination in hues of the plumage of the rose-breasted gross- 

 beak. He has a voice of rich round tone too, which may be 

 heard in his loud rollicking song all through June and July. 



This bird sometimes sings while on the wing, and the song _ 

 thus given has a very pretty effect as he flits rapidly through the 

 groves. Starting from a clump of trees close at hand, he is next 

 heard a little further away, then at some distance, and finally the 

 song dies away far in the depths of the woods. 



Another summer visitant often to be met with in small 

 woods and orcliards, is the cedar or cherry-bird, as it is often 

 called — perhaps from its love of cherries, which causes the 

 owner of cherry trees to regard it as an unwelcome visitor to the 

 orchard. 



It is a handsome bird, with its crested head and soft 

 reddish-brown plumage touched with scarlet and yellow about 

 the wings and' tail, but it has no song, and instead, only a 

 peculiar whistling note, not very loud, and not easily mistaken 

 for that of any other bird. The cedar-bird comes in May, and 

 leaves again in September ; it nests late, through July and 

 August. The nest is compact and well built, and is placed in a 

 small tree, most often a cedar ; the eggs are purplish white with 

 dark spots. 



The red-winged blackbird or starling, is another bird who 

 may be met with in the little wood, although his home and chief 

 haunt is the low marshy meadow on its borders. He has a 



