The Cardinal 
3 
''What cheer! What cheer! What cheer !’’ winding up with a peculiar long- 
drawn-out e-e-e. Contrary to the usual custom in bird families, the female 
I Cardinal is an excellent singer, although her notes are in an entirely different 
key from those of her gifted mate, being lower and to some ears more sweet 
and musical. 
Audubon’s ‘American Ornithological Biography’ is so rare at the present 
day, being found only in the largest libraries, and is consequently so inacces- 
i 
NEST AND EGGS OF CARDINAL 
Photographed in Central Park, New York City, by B. S. Bowdish 
sible to the ordinary reader, that his description of the song of the Cardinal 
is quoted in full. 
"Its song is at first loud and clear, resembling the finest sounds produced 
by the flageolet, and gradually descends into more marked and continued 
cadences, until it dies away in the air around. During 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, driv- 
ing the birds to the coverts to seek repose for a while. Nature again in- 
vigorated, the musician recommences his song, when, as if he had never 
strained his throat before, he makes the whole neighborhood resound, nor 
