165



Such a bird may be seen for minutes together, swallowing grit,

which probably sets up inflammation in the enfeebled digestive

organSv At any rate, I have often had such birds die, and from

no other assignable cause. I avoid shell-grit and coarse sand for

some time, scattering only fine sand on the cage-trays, and give

plenty of cuttle bone, and a little earth at the root of grassy

tufts, as I have said above.


I cannot think of anything else worth mentioning, except

that I am a believer in a variety of food, and, if possible, get 1113^

Gouldians to eat Canar}^ seed as well as white and spra}>- millet.

I have never seen them eat any other seed than the above.

When acclimatized, both in cages and aviaries, I always give an

abundance of green food, grass in flower and seed, chiekweed,

and shepherd’s purse.



THE GROSBEAKS.


By H. R. Fieemer.


(Continued from page igf .).


The Virginian Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis).


This truly magnificent bird is too well known to require

description, ever) r one is well acquainted with the brilliant

crimsom plumage of the male, and the more sober colour of the

hen. An old writer very accurately describes the female as being

“ brown, with a tindture of red."


I follow Dr. Butler in calling this bird the Virginian.

Cardinal, and that name seems likely to be generally adopted.

The name of Cardinal Grosbeak, used by the Zoological Society

and by Mr. Wiener, is accurate, but somewhat pedantic, and has

never become popular \ while that of Virginian Nightingale is

absurdly inappropriate.


Whatever may be the merits of the Virginian Cardinal as

a songster in a state of freedom, aviculturists are agreed that

when in captivity in England he does not rank very high as a

musician. In the spring he sometimes gives voice to a rather

pretty song, though the notes are few, but during the greater

part of the year his song consists of the repetition of one or two

very loud monotonous notes, which become rather irritating

after a time. His song is not only vastl> 7 inferior to that of the

Nightingale, but also to that of the Thrush, the Blackbird, and

many other British favourites. Among Foreign birds the

Black-tailed Hawfinch is greatly his superior, not to mention the

Shama and other insectivorous birds, and the Grey Singing

Finch, Alario Finch,, and other small birds.



