338 THE HAWFINCH, OR GROSBEAK. 



Many of these splendid birds are now brought to Europe as inhabitants of the aviary, and 

 are found to be hardy birds, able to withstand the inclemency even of the English climate. It 

 is a remarkable fact, that in confinement the Cardinal Grosbeak is very apt to change its color, 

 the bright scarlet and vermilion fading to a dull whitish red ; probably the effect of insufficient 

 or imjjroper food. When carefully tended, it is a really healthy and long-lived bird, having 

 been known to survive for a space of twenty years in a cage. 



The nest of the Cardinal Grosbeak is generally placed in a holly, cedar, laurel, or other 

 thick evergreen, and is made of slender sticks, weeds, strips of bark, and fine grass-stems. 

 The eggs are generally five in number, and their color is diiU gray-white, covered with numer- 

 ous blotches of brownish olive. There are generally two broods in the season. 



The Cardinal Grosbeak is the most familiar example of a group of birds whose plumage 

 is quite suggestive of the tropics. It is called in the Southern States Red-bird, and as such 

 is in great request as a singing bird. The male is very rich in color, much of the plumage 

 being in singular contrast to that of most of our North American birds. "To the name, 

 Virginian Nightingale," says Dr. Latham, "they are well entitled, for the clearness and 

 variety of their notes, which, both in a wild and domestic state, are very various and musi- 

 cal. Many of them resemble the high notes of a fife and are nearly as loud. In the Northern 

 States they are migratory, but in the lower parts of Pennsylvania they are resident the 

 whole year." 



In confinement these birds are known to have lived twenty-one years. A specimen is in 

 the old Peale's Museum, in Philadelphia ; such a fact is recorded with the stuffed specimen. 

 One peculiarity is that the female often sings as well as the male. 



A variety of this bird is called Saint Lucas Cardinal. There is also auothei* species named 

 Texan Cardinal. 



The Rose-breasted Grosbeak {Zamelodia ludoTiciana) is one of the most beautiful of 

 American birds. It is seen in New England during the summer and fall. The male has most 

 beautiful markings of pink and white upon his breast ; and being of considerable size, as com- 

 pared with most of our songsters, is notably handsome and conspicuous. 



The Black-headed Grosbeak is another species of about the same size, and though 

 very handsome in coloi'ation, is much less brilliant than the preceding. The Blue Grosbeak is 

 smaller, and is of a rich i)urplish blue. It inhabits the Southern States. 



The Pine Grosbeak {Pinicola enucleator) is a large, stout bird, of plain olive and red 

 plumage, and is one of the most attractive birds that visit the colder regions of America. 

 They breed about Hudson's Bay, and visit New England during the more severe winters. 

 Its notes are regarded as sweet and mellow. 



Another species is the Evening Grosbeak, inhabiting the Southern States. 



Europe possesses a good example of this group in the well-known Hawfinch, or Gros- 

 beak. 



This bird was once thought to be exceedingly scarce, but is now known to be anything 

 but uncommon, although it is rai'ely seen, owing to its very shy and retiring habits, which 

 lead it to eschew the vicinity of man and to bury itself in the recesses of forests. So 

 extremely wary is the Hawfinch that to approach within gunshot is a very difiicult matter, 

 and can seldom be accomplished Avirhout the assistance of a decoy-bird, or by imitating the 

 call-note, which bears some resemblance to that of a robin. It feeds chiefly on the various 

 wild berries, not rejecting even the hard stones of plums and tlie laurel berries. In the spring, 

 it is apt to make inroads in the eai'ly dawn upon the cultivated grounds, and has an especial 

 liking for peas, among which it often works dire havoc. 



It is a gregarious bird, associating in flocks varying in number from ten to two hundred, 

 and always being greatest after the breeding season. According to Mr. Doubleday, it is not 

 migratory. Forests with berries of various kinds are its chief strongholds. When in the 



