74 THE OOLQGIST. 



My little fire was sooa lighted under a rock, 'and, spreading out my scanty stock of 

 provisions, I reclined on my grassy couch. As I looked around on the fading features 

 of the beautiful landscape, my heart turned towards my distant home, where my friends 

 were doubtless wishing me, as I wished them, a happy night and peaceful slumbers. 

 Then were heard the barkings of the watch-dog, and I tapped my faithful companion 

 to prevent his answering tliem. The thoughts of my worldly mission tlien came over 

 my mind, and having thanked the Creator of all for his never-failing mercy, I closed 

 my eyes, and was passing away into the world of dreaming existence, when suddenly 

 there burst on my soul the serenade of the Rose-breasted bird, so rich, so mellow, so 

 loud in the stillness of the night, that sleep fled from my eyelids. Never did I enjoy 

 music more : it thnlled thi'ough my heart, and surrounded me with an atmosphere of 

 bhss. One miglit easily have imagined that even the Owl, charmed by such delightful 

 music, remained reverently silent. Long after the sounds ceased did I enjoy them, 

 and when all had again become still, I stretched out my wearied limbs, and gave my- 

 self up to the luxui'y of repose. In the morning I awoke vigorous as ever, and pre- 

 pared to continue my journey. 



1 have frequently observed this beautiful species, early in the month of March, in 

 the lower part* of Louisiana, , making its way eastward ; and when residing at Hender- 

 son in Kentucky, and in Cincinnati in Ohio, I have noticed the same circumstance. 

 At this early period, it passes at a considerable height in the air, and now and then 

 alights on the tops (jf the tallest trees of the forest, as if to rest awhile. While on wing 

 it utters a clear note, but when perched it remains silent, in an upright and rather stiff' 

 attitude. It is then easily approached. I have followed it in its migrations into Penn- 

 sylvania, New York, and other Eastern States, through the British Provinces of New 

 Brunswick and Nova IScotia, as far as Newfoundland, where many breed, but I saw 

 none in Labrador. It is never seen in the maritime parts of Georgia, or those of the 

 Carolinas, but some have been procured in the mountainous portions of those States. 

 I have found them rather plentiful iti the early part of May, along the steep banks of 

 the Schuylkill river, twenty or thirty miles from Philadelphia, and observed, that at 

 that season they fed mostly on the buds of the trees, their tender blossoms, and upon 

 insects, which they catch on wing, making short sallies for the purpose. I saw several 

 in the Great Pine Forest of Pennsylvania ; but they were more abundant iti New York, 

 especially along the banks of the beautiful river called the Mohawk. They are equally 

 abundant along the shores of Lakes Ontario and Ei'ie, although I believe that the great- 

 er number go as far as New Brunswick to breed. While on an excursion to the islands 

 at the entrance of the Bay of Fundy, in the beginning of May, my son shot several 

 which were in full song. 'J"'hese islands are about thirty miles distant from the 

 main land. 



The most western place in wliich I found the nest of this species Avas within a few 

 miles of Cintdnnati on the Ohio. It was placed in the upright forks of a low bush, and 

 differed so much in its composition from those which I have seen in the Eastern States, 

 that it greatly resembled the nest of the Blue Grosbeak already described. The young, 

 three in number, were ready to fly. The parents fed them on the soft grains of wheat 

 which they procured in a neighboring field, and often searched for insects in the cran- 

 nies of the bark of trees, on which they alighted sidewise, in the manner of Sparrows. 

 This was in the end of July. Generally, however, the nest of the Rose-breasted Gros- 

 beak is placed on the top branches of an alder bush, near water, and usually ou the 

 borders of meadows or alluvial grounds. It is composed of the dried twigs of trees. 



CONTINUED IN OUR NEXT. 



