90 INSESSORES. 



sylvania and New Jersey. Audubon says of this 

 bird : " Its song is at first loud and clear, resembling 

 the finest sounds produced by the flageolet, and gra- 

 dually descends into more marked and continued 

 cadences until it dies away in the air around. Dur- 

 ing the love season, the song is emitted with increased 

 emphasis by this proud musician, who, as if aware 

 of his powers, swells his throat, spreads his rosy tail, 

 droops his wings, and leans alternately to the right 

 and left, as if on the eve of expiring with delight at 

 the delicious sounds of his own voice. Again and 

 again are those melodies repeated, the bird resting 

 only at intervals to breathe. They may be heard 

 from long before the sun gilds the eastern horizon, 

 to the period when the blazing orb pours down its 

 noonday floods of heat and light, driving the birds 

 to the coverts to seek repose for awhile. Nature 

 again invigorated, the musician recommences his song, 

 when, as if he had never strained his throat before, 

 he makes the whole neighborhood resound, nor ceases 

 until the shades of evening close around him." 



The Blue Grosbeak is also an inhabitant of the 

 southern portion of the United States, but, unlike 

 its brother the Cardinal, is a shy, modest species, re- 

 tiring to the deep recesses of some secluded spot, 

 where the footsteps of the white man are seldom 

 seen. Here, by the borders of some stagnant pool, 

 whore the poisoned fumes exhaled by decaying vege- 

 tation are filling the air, are the favorite haunts and 

 the chosen summer dwelling of this beautiful bird. 

 It is rarely seen north of Virginia, although Individ- 



