ZOOLOGY. 63 



one occasion in considerate munters. They frequent the 

 marshes, where the ripe panicles of seed, from the reeds aiid 

 sedge, offer an ample abundance of their favourite food. 



Two male specimens of this bird, purchased ia the market 

 at New York, in May, 1855, and brought to England, sung 

 throughout the summer, and retained the varidfl plumage 

 of the male bird to November following. One of them then 

 died ; the other continued its song through another summer, 

 and during the whole period it was in my possession, it 

 never assumed the brown and yellow plumage of the female, 

 which I had been accustomed to see in the Bermudas ; 

 I acknowledge myseK unable to account for this circum- 

 stance. 



Cabddtal Geosbeak {Pitylus Cardinalis). This beautiful 

 bird is abundant in the Bermudas, being one of the few per- 

 manent residents of those islands. It is found in every 

 garden, and in every grove of cedars, which it enlivens by 

 the brilliancy of its plumage, and the cheerful repetition of 

 its short, unassuming, but pleasing song. It builds twice 

 in the year, the first brood leaving the nest early in April, 

 and the second in June. 



A favourite sport with the boys of Bermuda, is the cap- 

 ture of the " red bird" (imder which name the cardinal gros- 

 beak is known to the inhabitants), in a very primitive, yet 

 never faiHng trap, constructed of the stems of the common 

 sage bush (Lantana saMfolia). The stems are held together 

 by a stout string attached to the lower comers of the struc- 

 ture, and the centre stick of the roof or cover. By twisting 

 the latter round any degree of tension is acquired. Baited 

 with grains of maize, it is seldom the Cardinal Grosbeak 

 will refuse to enter it. The formation of this simple, yet 



