FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 345 



and the genus reaches its greatest development in Mexico, 

 where there are several kinds not found elsewhere. 



Regarding its nesting habits. Dr. J. G. Cooper says that 

 he found a large number that were " built in bushes, from 

 two to four feet from the ground, and containing but three 

 eggs, with the exception of one, which contained four." lie 

 also found nests that were built in low trees and in a vine 

 growing over the porch of a house. However, these towhees 

 vary greatly in the selection of a nesting site. Not infre- 

 quently the nest is placed on the ground, in hollow tree 

 trunks or in crevices of rocks which are hidden by vegeta- 

 tion. 



CARDINAL 



The Cardinal, or true "Red Bird," is found in some 

 form or phase of plumage from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 

 It ranges south of the Great Lakes, in the Eastern and 

 Central States. Resident wherever found, he is generally 

 working his way northward, selecting river courses in reach- 

 ing the regions about northern Illinois and Indiana. The 

 males are handsome birds with dark red plumage; the 

 females, although possessing the handsome crest carried 

 by all cardinals, is much paler in plumage, having ashy- 

 brown feathers similar to those worn by the scarlet tanager, 

 indigo bunting, bobolink, and other female birds whose 

 mates are conspicuously colored. 



Cardinals are common inhabitants of the river bottoms 

 about St. Louis and at points along the Illinois River one 

 hundred miles below Chicago. During the winter montlis 

 often two to six or more pairs will be found frequenting a 



