Part 34

Range. Nests from northern Georgia and central Kansas; winters from Ohio and Potomac Valleys to the Gulf.

Washington, common S.R., very common T.V., Apl. 5-Oct. 21; a few winter. Ossining, common S.R., Apl. 21-Oct. 31. Cambridge, common S.R., Apl. 25-Oct. 15. N. Ohio, common S.R., Mch. 10-Oct. 25. Glen Ellyn, not common, S.R., Mch. 30-Nov. 18, SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 11-Nov. 8.

Chewi['n]k, towheé, the clear, emphatic, strongly accented call announces the presence of a bird whose colors are as distinctive as its notes. The Towhee feeds on the ground in and near bushy places, but when the desire to sing comes upon him he leaves his lowly haunts and taking a more or less exposed perch, fifteen to twenty feet from the ground, utters his sweet-bird-sin-n-n-g, with an earnestness which goes far to atone for his lack of striking musical ability. The nest is built on the ground and the 4-5 white, finely speckled eggs are laid during the first half of May.

The White-eyed Towhee (P. e. alleni) of Florida and the coast region north to Charleston, South Carolina, has the eye yellowish instead of red and the white markings are more restricted. Its call is higher than that of the northern bird and its song shorter.

CARDINAL

Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis. Case 4, Figs. 34, 35.

The male, with his conspicuous crest and bright colors, can be confused with no other species; the female is much duller and the crest is less prominent but still evident. L. 8-1/4.

Range. Resident from the Gulf States to southern New York and northern Ohio; rarely found further north.

Washington, common P.R.; less common than formerly. Ossining, A.V. Cambridge, irregular but not very infrequent at all seasons. N. Ohio, common P.R. Glen Ellyn, rare S.R. SE. Minn., rare.

Next to the Mockingbird's medley, the rich, mellow whistle of the Cardinal is the most prominent bird voice in the choir of southern songsters. Passing most of the time in the undergrowth, where, in spite of his brilliant colors, he readily conceals himself, he makes no attempt, when singing, to hide his fiery plumes, but selecting a conspicuous perch, challenges the attention of the world.

The female Cardinal also sings, but her song has much less volume than that of her mate, and is more rarely heard. The call-note of both sexes is a minute; sharp, cheep, which one would attribute to a bird half their size. The Cardinal nests in bushes, laying 3-4 whitish eggs speckled and spotted with brown, in April.

The Florida Cardinal (C. c. floridanus), a slightly smaller, deeper colored (especially in the female) race of the preceding, inhabits the peninsula of Florida.

BLUE GROSBEAK

Guiraca cærulea cærulea. Case 6, Figs. 52, 53

Should be confused only with the Indigo Bunting, but it is larger and the male is darker and has brown wing-bars. L. 7.

Range. Nests from Florida to Maryland and southern Illinois; winters in the tropics, uncommon east of the Alleghanies.

Washington, very uncommon, S.R., May 1-Sept. 20. Cambridge, A.V., one instance, May.

The Blue Grosbeak is an unfamiliar bird to most eastern students. Ridgway states that its haunts resemble those of the Field Sparrow or Indigo Bunting. Its call is a strong, harsh ptchick, its song a beautiful, but rather feeble warble. The nest is usually built in bushes and the 3-4 pale bluish white eggs are laid in May.

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK

Zamelodia ludoviciana. Case 7, Figs. 25, 26

The male needs no introduction; the streaked plumage of the female betrays her Sparrow ancestry; the white stripe over her eye is a conspicuous mark. Young males in the fall resemble the female, but have a rose-tinted breast. L. 8.

Range. Nests from central Kansas and central New Jersey north to Canada, and, in the mountains, south to northern Georgia; winters in the tropics.

Washington, rather common T.V., May 1-30; Aug. 29-Oct. 6. Ossining, tolerably common S.R., May 3-Oct. 1. Cambridge, very common S.R., May 10-Sept. 10. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 27-Sept. 15. Glen Ellyn, fairly common S.R., common T.V., Apl. 27-Sept. 28. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 27-Sept. 23.

Distinguished alike by plumage and song, the Rose-breast is one of our most notable bird citizens. His song resembles in form that of the Robin, but has a more lyrical, flowing, joyous quality, and, unlike the Robin, he often sings while flying. The call-note of both sexes is a sharp peek which, like the Cardinal's cheep, seems too small for the bird.

The Rose-breast lives and nests in woodland, particularly second-growths, building a frail nest ten to twenty feet from the ground. The 4-5 blue, brown-marked eggs are laid the latter half of May.

INDIGO BUNTING

Passerina cyanea. Case 7, Figs. 23, 24

The male, well seen, is unmistakable. The female is very 'sparrowy' and, unless one gets a suggestion of blue in her plumage, can best be identified by her unsparrow-like, sharp pit. L. 5-1/2.