_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.