Sp.  Charact.  —  Crimson,  deepest  on  the  head  and  throat;  wings
and  emarginate  tail,  dusky,  the  back  spotted  with  the  same  ;  belly-
partly  white.  —  Female  and  young  varied  with  pale  brown  and
dusky,  without  crimson  ;  beneath  yellowish-white,  spotted  with
dusky  brown.
Tins  brilliant  and  cheerful  songster  inhabits  the  North-
ern and  Western  States  during  the  summer,  where  it
pairs  and  rears  its  young.  They  have  been  observed  also
in  Missouri  territory  by  Mr.  Say,  and  probably  extend  their
residence  far  to  the  North.  They  appear  to  have  a  great
predilection  for  resinous  evergreens,  pine  and  spruce,
and  feed  upon  the  berries  of  the  juniper  and  red  cedar,*
as  well  as  the  seeds  of  the  tulip-tree, t  and  others;  they
likewise  frequent  gardens  for  the  same  purpose,  and  are
particularly  pleased  with  sun-flower  seeds  and  other  oily
kinds.  When  reduced  to  necessity,  they  are  observed  to
eat  the  buds  of  the  beech,  and  those  of  the  fruit  trees,
probably  for  the  sake  of  the  stamens  contained  in*  them,
of  which  they  are  greedy  when  displayed  in  the  opening
blossoms.  The  stipules  of  the  expanding  buds  of  the  elm,
which  are  sweet  and  mucilaginous,  in  the  spring,  also
make  a  common  part  of  their  fare.  Their  food,  in  sum-
mer, however,  consists  principally  of  insects,  and  juicy
berries,  as  those  of  the  honeysuckle  and  others.
