AVES-RED-BIRD. 531 



the habitations of man, unless perhaps to the orchard, where he sometimes 

 builds; or to the cherry trees in search of fruit. The depths of the woods 

 are his favorite abode. There, among the thick foliage of the tallest trees, 

 his simple, and almost monotonous notes of chip, churr, repeated at intervals 

 in a pensive tone, may be occasionally heard, which appear to proceed from 

 a considerable distance, though the bird be immediately above you ; a faculty 

 bestowed upon him by the beneficent Author of nature, no doubt for his 

 protection, to compensate in a degree for the danger to which his glowing 

 color would often expose him. Besides this usual note, he has, at times, a 

 more musical chant. His food consists of large winged insects, such as 

 wasps, hornets, and humble bees, and also of fruit. His nest is built on the 

 horizontal branch of a tree, sometimes an apple tree, and is but slightly put 

 together ; stalks of broken flax, and dry grass, so thinly woven together, that 

 the light is easily perceivable through it, from the repository of his young. 

 His manners are modest, easy, and inoffensive. He commits no depreda- 

 tions on the property of the husbandman ; but rather benefits him by the 

 daily destruction of many noxious insects ; and when winter approaches, he 

 is no plundering dependant, but seeks in a distant country that sustenance 

 which the severity of the season denies to his industry in this. He is a 

 striking ornament to our rural scenery, and none of the meanest of our rural 

 songsters. Such being the true traits of his character, we shall always 

 with pleasure welcome this beautiful stranger to our orchards, groves, and 

 forests. 



When you approach the nest, the male keeps cautiously at a distance, as 

 if fearful of being seen ; while the female hovers round in the greatest 

 agitation and distress. When the young leave the nest, the male parent 

 takes a most active part in feeding and attending them, and is then altogether 

 indifferent of concealment. 



THE SUMMER RED-BIRD.i 



The changes of color which this bird is subject to, during the first year, 

 have deceived European naturalists so much, that four different species of 

 tanager have been formed out of this one. The female differs much in color 

 from the male. The food of this bird consists of various kinds of bugs, and 

 large black beetles. During the season of whortleberries they seem to live 

 almost entirely upon them. In Pennsylvania they are rare, but in New 

 Jersey they may be generally found. The note of the male is a strong and 

 sonorous whistle, resembling a loose trill or shake on the notes of a fife, 



1 Tanagra cestiva, Wilson. 



