CARDINAL GROSBEAK. 41 



eggs and progeny to the mercy and management of other smaller 

 birds, in the same cage with a Red-bird, which fed and reared it 

 with great tenderness* They both continue to inhabit the same 

 cage, and I have hopes that the Red-bird will finish his pupil's edu* 

 cation by teaching him his song. 



I must here remark, for the information of foreigners^ that the 

 story told by Le Page du Pratz, in his History of Louisiana, and 

 which has been so often repeated by other writers, that the Cardi- 

 nal Grosbeak " collects together great hoards of maize and buck- 

 " wheat, often as much as a bushel, which it artfully covers with 

 " leaves and small twigs, leaving only a small hole for entrance 

 into the magazine,'^ is entirely fabulous. 



This species is eight inches long, and eleven in extent; the 

 whole upper parts are a dull dusky red, except the sides of the 

 neck and head, which, as well as the whole lower partSj are bright 

 vermilion; chin, front and lores black; the head is ornamented 

 with a high, pointed crest, which it frequently erects in an almost 

 perpendicular position; and can also flatten at pleasure, so as to 

 be scarcely perceptible ; the tail extends three inches beyond the 

 wings, and is nearly even at the end; the bill is of a brilliant 

 coralline color, very thick and powerful for breaking hard grain 

 and seeds ; the legs and feet a light clay color (not blood red as 

 BufFon describes them) ; iris of the eye dark hazel. The female 

 is less than the male, has the upper parts of a brownish olive or 

 drab color, the tail, wings, and tip of the crest excepted, which are 

 nearly as red as those of the male ; the lores, front and chin are 

 light ash; breast and lower parts a reddish drab; bill, legs and 

 eyes as those of the male ; the crest is shorter and less frequently 

 raised. 



One peculiarity in the female of this species is, that she often 

 sings nearly as well as the male. I do not know whether it be 

 owing to some little jealousy on this score or not, that the male, 

 when both occupy the same cage, very often destroys the female. 



VOL. II. L 



