Cardinal Grosbeak 
133 
days old. They were very tame, even affection- 
ate toward him, hopping over his shoulders, head, 
knees, and hands without the least fear, and 
eating from his fingers. When only ten weeks 
old the little boy grosbeaks began to warble. 
On being released to pick up their own living 
in the garden, these pets repaid their foster- 
father by eating quantities of potato-bugs, 
among other pests. Some people call this 
grosbeak the potato-bug bird. 
CARDINAL GROSBEAK 
Called also : Crested Redhird: Virginia Night- 
ingale. 
It was on a cold January day in Central Park, 
New York, that I first met a cardinal and was 
warmed by the sight. Then I supposed that he 
must have escaped from a cage, for he is un- 
common north of Washington. With tail and 
crest erect, he was hopping about rather clumsily 
on the ground near the bear’s cage, and 
picking up bits of broken peanuts that had 
missed their mark. Presently a dove-coloured 
bird, lightly washed with dull red, joined him 
and I guessed by her crest that she must be 
his mate. Therefore both birds were per- 
manent residents in the park and not escaped 
pets. Although they look as if they belonged 
