Genus XXXV. LOXIA* GROSBEAK. 
Species I. L, CA ED IN A LIS. 
CARDINAL GROSBEAK. 
[Plate XI. Figs. 1, 2.] 
Linn t . Si/st. i., p. 300, No. 5. — -Le Gros-bec de Virginie, Briss. Orn. in., p. 255, No. 
17.— Buff, hi., p. 458, pi. 28. PI. Enl. 37.— Latii. St/n. ii., p. 118, No. 13.— 
Cardinal, Brown's Jam. p. 647 .f 
This is one of our most common cage birds ; and is very generally 
known, not only in North America, but even in Europe ; numbers of 
them having been carried over both to France and England, in •which, 
last country they are usually called Virginia Nightingales. To this 
name, Dr. Latham observes, "they are fully entitled," from the clear- 
ness and variety of their notes, which, both in a wild and domestic 
state, are very various and musical ; many of them resemble the high 
notes of a fife, and are nearly as loud. They are in song from March 
to September, beginning at the first appearance of dawn, and repeating 
a favorite stanza, or passage, twenty or thirty times successively ; some- 
times with little intermission for a wdiole morning together ; which, like 
a good story too often repeated, becomes at length tiresome and insipid. 
But the sprightly figure, and gaudy plumage of the Red-bird, his 
vivacity, strength of voice, and actual variety of note,' and the little 
expense with Avhich he is kept, will always make him a favorite. 
This species, like the Mocking-bird, is more numerous to the east of 
the great range of the Alleghany Mountains ; and inhabits from New 
England to Carthagena. Michaux the younger, son to the celebrated 
botanist, informed me, that he found this bird numerous in the Bermu- 
das. In Pennsylvania and the Northern States it is rather a scarce 
species ; but through tire whole lower parts of the Southern States, in 
the neighborhood of settlements, I found them much more numerous ; 
their clear and lively notes, in the months of January and February, 
* This genus, as constituted by Brisson and at present adopted, does not include 
the four species described under it by Wilson. The three first have been referred 
to the genus Fringilla, and the fourth, according to Teinminck, belongs to the genus 
Pyrrliida of Brisson. 
t We add tin 1 following synonyines : — Loxia cardinalis, Gmel. S/jst. I., p. 847, 
Cardinal Grosbeak, Ant. Zool. No. 210. Catesb. Car. I., t. p. 38. 
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