CARDINAL. 
365 
'whoit 'whoit 'whoit 'feu (the 'whoit an exact human whistle, 
and the teii tenderly emphatic). Another bird called tco tco 
teo, ishooe tshooe tshooe tshooe, then tea teo tco tco alone, or 
'woit 'woit 'woit 'woitf with the last word delivered slower, and 
in a sinking, delicately plaintive tone. These phrases were 
also answered in sympathy by the female, at a little distance 
up the meandering brook where they were engaged in collect- 
ing their food. In Florida, about the 12th of March, I heard 
a very fine Redbird singing 'wtuttoo wittoo widoo 'widdoo. 
He began low, almost in a whisper, but very clearly articu- 
lated, and gradually raised his voice to loudness, in the manner 
of the Nightingale. He now changed the strain into victii, 
wilt wilt wilt wilt ; then 'i^ctu tshooe 'tshooe tshooe tshooe^ 
afterwards ti'i tii 'victu^ and 'victu tu tu, then varying tshooee, 
etc., in a lower key. On approaching this bird, to see and 
hear him more distinctly, he exhibited his anger by scolding in 
a hoarse tone almost like that of a squirrel, and from the sea- 
son, and absence of respondence in the female, I imagine he 
already had a nest in the neighboring thicket. The bird, which 
frequented the Botanic Garden for several days, in the morn- 
ing sang fearlessly and loudly, but at other times the pair hid 
themselves amongst the thickest bushes, or descended to the 
ground to feed among the grass and collect insects and worms ; 
now and then however, in an undertone, as if afraid of attract- 
ing notice, he whispered to his mate teu ten feu, woit, 'woit 
'woit, elevating his tone of recognition a little at the close of 
the call, and going over other of the usual phrases in the same 
whispering and slenderly rising voice. About the 4th of July, 
the same pair, apparently, paid us a parting visit, and the male 
sang with great energy, 'tv' tio', 'weto 'weto 'weto 'weto 'weto 
wait, then waitiip wditup wditiip wditup, tshow tshow tsJww 
tshow tshow. On whistling any of those notes within hearing 
of the Cardinal, a response is almost certain, as this affectionate 
recognition is frequently answered by the female. His phrase 
may also be altered at will, by whistling some other than that 
which he repeats, as he often immediately answers in the call 
he hears, supposing it to be that of his approachmg mate. 
