CARDINAL GROSBEAK, 



345 



Coccothrauftes Indica criftata, Aldr. ii. 289. 



Virginian Nightingale, Will. Orn 245. — Rati Syn. av, 85». 



Redbird, Latv/on, 144.. — Catejhy, i. 38. 



La Cardinal hupe, De Buffon, iii. 45S. 



Grofbec de Virginie, Brijfon, iii. 253. 



Loxia Cardinalis, Lin. Syji. 300. — Latham, ii. 118.— Lev. Mus.— Bl.Mus.^ 



^R. "With a light red bill J bafe encompalTed with black fea- 

 thers : head adorned with an upright pointed crefl: : head, 

 neck, and body, of a rich fcarlet color : wings and tail of a dark 

 and dull red. Female of a much duller hue,, with brown cheeks 

 and back : belly of a dirty yellow. Length nine inches. 



Inhabits the country fronn Newfoundland to Louifiana. Is a hardy 

 and fanniliar bird: very docile. Lives much on the grain of mayz, 

 which it breaks readily with its ftrong bill. Lays up a winter pro- 

 vifion of that grain ; and conceals it very artfully in its retreat, 

 firft with leaves, and then with fmall branches, with an aperture 

 for an entrance *. 



Their fong is remarkably fine 5 fo -that they are called the 

 Virginian Nightingale. They fit warbling in the mornings, durino- 

 fpring, on the tops of the highell: trees f. They alfo fing when- 

 confined in cages, and are much fought on account of their melody»- 

 In a ftate of confinement the female and male are at fuch enmity, 

 that they will kill one another. They feldom are feen in larger 

 numbers than three or four together. I have heard that their note 

 is toned not unlike that of a Throftle ; and that when tame, they 

 will learn to whittle. Arrives in the Jerftes and New Tork in the 

 beginning of /^n7; and during the fummer, haunts the magnolic^ 

 f.vamps. In autunin retires to the fouth.. 



• Dtt Pratz, ii. 94. 



t Kalm, ii. 71.— He fays that they are very deftruftive to Bees- 



210. Cardinal. 



Placs^^ 



Crelts^ 



