PASSERINE BIRDS. 145 



of plumage until three years old. The song of the Rose-breasted Hawfinch is rich and pleasing. 

 Nuttall tells us that in fine weather it will sing during the whole night, pouring out floods of 

 song as varied and enchanting as those of the Nightingale, the little songster appearing to manifest the 

 greatest delight at its own performance of strains that are alternately plaintive, gay, and tender. The 

 Mocking-bird is the only American species that can bear comparison with it, so that its vocal powers, 

 combined with its great beauty and the ease with which it is tamed, render it one of the most valuable 

 birds of its size for purposes of domestication. 



THE CARDINAL GROSBEAK. 



The Cardinal or Tufted Grosbeak (Cardinalis Virginianus) is closely allied to the species 

 we have just described, as is plainly indicated by its compact body, short wings, graduated tail, and 

 upright attitude. The length of the Cardinal is about eight inches, its breadth rather more than 

 eleven inches, the wing, from shoulder to tip, three inches, and the tail three and a half inches. The 

 soft and glossy plumage of the male is very beautiful, though almost uniform in its tints, the prevailing 

 colour being dark red ; the head is scarlet, and the face and throat deep black ; the inner web of the 

 wing is light brown, the shafts being of a darker shade, the beak bright red, the eyes dark greyish 

 brown, the feet pale brown, shaded with greyish blue. In the female the tints are paler than those of 

 her mate, and the tuft shorter ; the back of the head, nape of the neck, and upper part of the back 

 are greyish brown ; the forehead, eyebrows, and tuft deep red ; the wings dark brownish red. The 

 individual quills are bordered with greyish brown, the lower part of the body is greenish brown, the 

 breast and middle of the body of a reddish hue, and the beak pale red. 



The Cardinal is found in nearly all parts of North America, inhabiting the Southern States in 

 large numbers ; but, we believe, is entirely unknown in the extreme north of that continent. It 

 prefers such districts as are near the coast, and during mild seasons will remain for years together 

 in the same locality \ but should extreme cold set in, it at once changes its abode for a more 

 southern region. Its life is passed upon the trees, from which it makes short excursions over 

 the neighbouring country. Should food be scarce in its favourite woods, it visits fields and 

 gardens, and is occasionally met with in the villages, where it receives a hearty welcome on 

 account of its brilliant plumage and delightful song. In the summer time these birds may be seen in 

 pairs ; in winter they associate in small parties, living on very friendly terms with many other species, 

 and constantly frequenting farmyards, where their strong beaks are of the greatest service to them, 

 enabling them to feed upon the various kinds of com scattered over the ground ; at night they sleep 

 upon a thickly-foliaged tree, and thus survive the winter months. They are remarkably restless, 

 and rarely remain longer than a minute in one position ; their flight is abrupt, rapid, and noisy, 

 the movements of their wings being accompanied by a constant opening and closing of the tail ; 

 they seldom fly to any great distance, and hop nimbly, either upon the ground or in the trees. Should 

 the winter prove severe, the Cardinal journeys southward in search of a milder climate, returning 

 about March, in company with other migratory birds. Audubon tells us that these journeys are 

 accomplished in some measure on foot, the little creature hopping from one bush to another, and 

 flying over more considerable distances. The males return some days previous to their female com- 

 panions ; shortly after their re-appearance the pairing season commences, and is always inaugurated 

 by violent disputes and battles between the males, who chase each other from place to place with 

 bitter animosity, and then return to pour forth a song of triumph in the ear of their mates, to whom 

 they are most tenderly attached ; bushes or trees in the vicinity of a river or farmyard are the 

 localities generally preferred for building purposes, and the nest is frequently placed within a few 

 yards of that of a Mocking-bird. In the Northern States the female lays but once during the year, 

 19 



