﻿The Cardinal 



41 



"What cheer! What cheer! What cheer!" winding up with a peculiar long- 

 drawn-out e—e-e. Contrary to the usual custom in bird families, the female 

 Cardinal is an excellent singer, although her notes are in an entirely different 

 key from those of her gifted mate, being lower and to some ears more sweet 

 and musical. 



Audubon's 'American Ornithological Biography' is so rare at the present 

 day, being found only in the largest libraries, and is consequently so inacces- 



NEST AND EGGS OF CARDINAL 

 Photographed in Central Park, New York City, by B. S. Bowdish 



sible to the ordinary reader, that his description of the song of the Cardinal 

 is quoted in full. 



"Its song is at first loud and clear, resembling the finest sounds produced 

 by the flageolet, and gradually descends into more marked and continued 

 cadences, until it dies away in the air around. During the love-season the 

 song is emitted with increased emphasis by this proud musician, who, as if 

 aware of his powers, swells his throat, spreads his rosy tail, droops his wings, 

 and leans alternately to the right and left, as if on the eve of expiring with 

 delight at the delicious sounds of his own voice. Again and again are those 

 melodies repeated, the bird resting only at intervals to breathe. They may 

 be heard from long before the sun gilds the eastern horizon, to the period 

 when the blazing orb pours down its noonday floods of heat and light, driv- 

 ing the birds to the coverts to seek repose for a while. Nature again in- 

 vigorated, the musician recommences his song, when, as if he had never 

 strained his throat before, he makes the whole neighborhood resound, nor 



