100 THE ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. 



wing 3.95 (100.3) ; tail 2.84 (72.1) ; bill, length, .66 (16.8) ; bill, depth, .51 (13.). 

 Female somewhat smaller. 



Recognition Marks. — Chewink size ; male easily known by the black,' car- 

 mine, and white of fore-front; female by large bill with white eye-brow, sharply 

 streaked breast, and general streaky appearance above. 



Nest, oftenest a careless bunch of grass-stems or weed-stalks, but sometimes 

 carefully constructed, in bushes of thickets or in low trees. Eggs, 3 or 4, dull 

 greenish, spotted and blotched with reddish browns. Av. size, i.oo x .73 (25.4 x 

 18.5). 



General Range. — Eastern United States and southern Canada, west to Mani- 

 toba and the eastern border of the Plains, breeding from Kansas and the moun- 

 tains of the Carolinas northward; south in winter to Cuba, Central America, and 

 northern South America. 



Range in Ohio. — A regular, but not very common summer resident; less 

 common or wanting in southern part of state. 



WE are none of us likely to forget our first meetiiig with this distin- 

 guished bird. It was probably on a perfect morning early in May, when 

 we were poking about in a brushy patch near the river, all on the qui vive 

 with the spring expectancy. Thkimp! What was that? Thkimp! again 

 the nasal explosive, half inquiring, half disturbed. Ah, there he is, quitting 

 cover for a bunch of leafless weed-stalks that he may for a moment see and 

 be seen. "What a beauty !" we exclaim, "and to come so far north !" For 

 we feel instinctively that we are beholding a scion of tropical stock. And 

 such indeed he is, altho he has long since become naturalized in the middle 

 north and Canada. 



Yet for all he is a northern pioneer, he is no mere adventurer. Flis 

 every movement betrays the culture of good breeding and conscious quality. 

 His dress, too, is faultless, as becomes a perfect gentleman. A black suit 

 with white cuffs, — or maybe several pairs, no matter — an immaculate white 

 vest, and an ample red cravat, all complete. His wife will not be along fon 

 a few days yet; that is, not until the head of the expected family has done 

 the rough work of pioneering; and when she does come you will not know 

 her for the mate of such a brilliant lord, until you catch them one day ex- 

 changing confidences, sotto voce. 



During migrations this Grosbeak often keeps to the highest tree-tops 

 where his bright colors almost escape notice amidst the newly bursting ver- 

 dure; but he is most at home in second-growth thickets and swampy tangles. 

 In either case he sings freely, a rich, rolling, continuous warble, which is 

 among the finest of woodland notes. The song is most nearly comparable 

 to that of the Scarlet Tanager, but it is to be distinguished by its rounder 

 quality and the entire absence of phrasing. When singing to his mate the 

 bird sometimes stands on tiptoe with excitement, and makes the thickets 

 vibrate with long-drawn melody. Sometimes, especially if you are known 



