Audubon's Birds/BIRDSVER1_3.BIN/dp/0085/00854.txt

Text File | 1992-08-27 | 15KB | 237 lines

$Unique_ID{BRD00854}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{The Cardinal Grosbeak}
$Subject{Fringillinae; Pitylus; Cardinalis; cardinalis; Cardinal Grosbeak;
Northern Cardinal}
$Journal{Birds of America:  Volume III}
$Volume{Vol. 3:198-203}
$Family{Fringillinae}
$Genus{Pitylus; Cardinalis}
$Species{cardinalis}
$Common_Name{Cardinal Grosbeak; Northern Cardinal}
$Log{
Plate CCIII*00334p1.scf,61050026.aud
Bird Call*61050026.aud
Family*00267.txt
Genus*00333.txt
}

            (C) (P) Library of Natural Sounds; Cornell Laboratory
       of Ornithology 1990-91, 1992; Ithaca, N.Y., All rights reserved.
       Portions copyright (c) Creative Multimedia Corp., 1990-91, 1992

                       B I R D S   O F   A M E R I C A .

                    By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. L. & E.

                   ------------------------------------------
                                   VOL.  III.
                        --------------------------------


                             THE CARDINAL GROSBEAK.
             [Northern Cardinal.  State Bird of Illinois, Indiana,
          Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.]


                           PITYLUS CARDINALIS, Linn.
                            [Cardinalis cardinalis.]


                        PLATE CCIII.--MALE, AND FEMALE.


     In richness of plumage, elegance of motion, and strength of song, this
species surpasses all its kindred in the United States.  It is known by the
names of Red-bird, Virginia Nightingale, Cardinal-bird, and that at the head of
the present article.  It is very abundant in all our Southern States, as well as
in the peninsula of the Floridas.  In the western country a great number are
found as far up on the Ohio as the city of Cincinnati, and they extend to
considerable distances into Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.  They are found in
the maritime districts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where they breed, and
where a few remain the whole year; some are also seen in the State of New York,
and now and then a straggler proceeds into Massachusetts; but farther eastward
this species has never been observed.
     This fine songster relishes the interior of the forest, and the heart of
the deepest cane-brakes or retired swamps, as well as the neighbourhood of
cities.  It is constantly found in our fields, orchards and gardens; nay, it
often enters the very streets of our southern towns and villages to breed; and
it is rare that one goes into a planter's yard without observing the Red-bird
skipping about the trees or on the turf beneath them.  Go where it may, it is
always welcome, and every where a favourite, so rich is its song, and so
brilliant its plumage.
     The Cardinal-bird breeds in the Floridas.  In the beginning of March I
found them already paired in that country, and on the 8th of February near
General HERNANDEZ's.  In the neighbourhood of Charleston, as well as in
Louisiana, they are nearly a month later, and much the same lapse of time takes
place again before they form a nest in the State of New Jersey or in that of
Kentucky.
     The nest is placed, apparently without much consideration, in some low
briar, bush, or tree, often near the fence, the middle of a field, or the
interior of a thicket, not far from a cooling stream, to which they are fond of
resorting, for the purpose of drinking and bathing.  Sometimes you find it
placed close to the planter's house or in his garden, a few yards from that of
the Mocking-bird or the Thrasher.  It is composed of dry leaves and twigs,
together with a large proportion of dry grass and slips of grape-vines, and is
finished within with bent-grass, wrought in a circular form.  The eggs are from
four to six, of a dull white colour, marked all over with touches of
olive-brown.
     In the Southern Districts they now and then raise three broods in the
season, but in the Middle States seldom more than one.  The young on leaving the
nest, frequently follow their parents on the ground for several days, after
which they disperse and seek for food apart.  During the pairing season, the
males are so pugnacious, that although they breed near birds of other species,
they never allow one of their own to nestle in their vicinity.  One male may be
seen following another from bush to bush, emitting a shrill note of anger, and
diving towards the fugitive antagonist whenever an opportunity offers, until the
latter has escaped quite beyond his jurisdiction, when the conqueror, elated,
returns to his grounds, ascends his favourite tree, and pours out his song in
full exultation.
     Those which migrate to the eastward begin to move about the commencement of
March, usually in the company of the Towhe Bunting and other Sparrows, hopping
and passing from bush to bash during the whole day, announcing to the traveller
and husbandman the approach of a more genial season, and resting at night in the
secluded swamps.  The males precede the females about ten days.
     Towards autumn they frequently ascend to the tops of tall trees in search
of grapes and berries, being as fond of succulent or pulpy fruits as they are of
the seeds of corn and grasses.  On the least appearance of dancer they at once
glide into the interior of the nearest thickets.  During the summer heats they
frequently resort to sandy roads to dust themselves, carelessly suffering people
to approach them until within a few yards, when they only remove to the nearest
bushes, until the intruders pass.
     They are easily raised when taken from the nest, and breed when kept in
aviaries.  My friend Dr. SAMUEL WILSON of Charleston, has had them breeding with
him, having placed straw-baskets for the purpose, in which the female deposited
her eggs, without improving the nest any more than by placing in it a few
grass-blades, perhaps pilfered from some of her neighbours.  The purity of its
colouring is soon lost when it is kept in confinement, where it is gentle,
easily fed on corn or hemp-seed, and it sings when placed in a cage for several
months in the year.
     During winter the Cardinal Grosbeak frequently shews itself in the
farm-yard, among Turtle-Doves, Jays, Mocking-birds, and various species of
Sparrows, picking up its food from the store daily supplied to the poultry.  It
now and then seeks refuge at night in the lee of some haystack, or throws itself
with many other birds among the thickest branches of the nearest evergreen tree.
     The flight of the species is strong and rapid, although seldom continued to
any great distance.  It is performed by glidings and jerks of the tail.  When
the bird is alighted it also frequently juts its tail with grace.  Like all
birds of the genus it hops, but does not walk.
     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, driving the birds
to the coverts, to seek repose for awhile.  Nature again invigorated, the
musician recommences his song, when, as if he had never strained his throat
before, he makes the whole neighbourhood resound, nor ceases until the shades of
evening close around him.  Day after day the song of the Red-bird beguiles the
weariness of his mate as she assiduously warms her eggs; and at times she also
assists with the modesty of her gentler sex.  Few individuals of our own race
refuse their homage of admiration to the sweet songster.  How pleasing is it,
when, by a clouded sky, the w