104 BIRDS OF THK PASTURE AND FOREST. 



was chiefly confined to the Middle States. Now we may 

 see them frequently every summer, but not in familiar 

 places or in those which are very solitary. I have seen 

 them many times in Medford woods,^and in those near 

 Fresh Pond in Cambridge, and in Essex County. 



The first time I heard the note of the Grosbeak I mis- 

 took it for the song of the Golden Eobin, prolonged, 

 varied, and improved in an unusual degree. I soon, how- 

 ever, discovered the bird, and thought his lively manners, 

 no less than his brilliant notes, were like those of the 

 Golden Eobin. His song is greatly superior to that of the 

 Eedbird or Cardinal Grosbeak, which is only a repetition 

 of two or three sweet notes, like che-hoo, che-hoo, che-hoo, 

 rapidly delivered, the last note of each two about a third 

 lower than the first. In the South he is joined by the 

 Mocking-Bird, which all day tiresomely repeats these 

 notes of the Cardinal. 



The Eose-breasted Grosbeak is classed among our noc- 

 turnal songsters by those who are familiar with its habits. 

 Samuels has heard it frequently in the night, and says of 

 its song that it is " a sweet warble with various emphatic 

 passages, and sometimes a plaintive strain exceedingly 

 tender and affecting." This description seems to me very 

 beautiful and accurate. Mr. S. P. Fowler tliinks this bird 

 is not heard so frequently by night as by day, though it 

 often sings in the light of the moon. The moon, indeed, 

 seems to be the source of inspiration to all nocturnal 

 songsters. Though I once mistook- the song of this Gros- 

 beak for that of the Golden Eobin, lately I have thought 

 it more like the native song of the Mocking-Bird, and 

 not inferior to it in any respect. He utters but few 

 plaintive notes. They are mostly cheerful, melodious, 

 and exhilarating. They are modulated somewhat like 

 those of the Purple Finch, delivered more loudly and with 

 a great deal more precision. 



