FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 
369 
chewink-like character and proclaims his presence, as does his song 
when the ear has caught the difference between it and that of the 
Passerella. Though phrased somewhat like the song of the maculatus 
group, it is wholly different in quality and rendering, being more 
of the bright finch type with the Chondestes-like burr heard in so 
many finch songs, and its two emphasized notes standing out in a 
medley of short notes. 
Ilis familiar voice is often heard from a wall of chaparral, but 
he may generally be found perched on top of a bush, and at sight of 
you will raise his rufous cap inquiringly, turning to look down so 
that his white chin shows to good advantage. When seen hopping 
over the ground he is as trim and alert as a song sparrow, looking 
about and flashing his green tail till he disappears to scratch in the 
brush. When surprised on the ground he will often run rather than 
take wing. One that Mr. Bailey found on its nest at 7900 feet on 
Donner Peak, California, ran silently for five or six rods through the 
brush, and then stopped, to tempt him away from its brood. 
GENUS CARDINALIS. 
General Characters. — Head with conspicuous crest; bill stout, conical, 
much deeper than broad at base ; wing- short, much rounded, primaries 
exceeding secondaries by less than length of exposed culmen ; tail longer 
than wing. 
KEY TO ADULT MALES. 
1. Feathers all around base of bill black. 
2. Black frontlet wider. Eastern United States . cardinalis, p. 369. 
2'. Black frontlet narrower. Texas to Mexico . canicaudus, p. 370. 
1'. Feathers around base of bill not black across forehead. Arizona to 
Mexico. superbus, p. 370. 
593. Cardinalis cardinalis {Linn.). Cardinal. 
Adult male. — Crest, head, and lower parts bright red, feathers around 
base of bill black; back dull red, feathers tipped with olive gray, wearing 
away in midsummer. Adult female : wings and tail dull 
red; crest partly red; upper parts olive grayish ; under 
parts grayish buffy ; chest often tinged with red ; feathers 
around base of bill and upper parts of throat dull grayish ; .< 
under wing coverts pinkish red. Young: like adult female, 
but duller, the bill blackish. Male: length (skins) 7.40- 
8.40, wing 3.60-3.93, tail 3.78-4.35, bill .71-80. Female: 
length (skins) 7.40-8.15, wing 3.48-3.78, tail 3.70-4.22, bill 
.65-.S0. 
Distribution. — Resident in eastern United States from the Gulf north 
regularly to about latitude 41°; casually northward to Ontario; west to 
edge of great Plains, rarely in western Kansas and Colorado. 
Nest. — A rather frail structure of sticks or fine rootlets, leaves, grasses, 
or strips of bark, sometimes covered with gray moss; placed in bushes, 
brambles, grapevines, or low trees. Eggs: 2 to 4, white, irregularly spotted 
with purple and reddish brown. 
Food. — Insects, berries, seeds, and grain. 
Fig. 462. 
