LOUISIANA TANAGER. 47'1 



LOUISIANA TANAGER. 



{Tanagra ludoviciana, Wilson, iii. p. 27. pi. 20. fig. 1. Phil. Mu- 

 seum, No. 6236.) 



Sp. Charact. — Yellow; anterior part of the head orange- scarlet ; 

 back, wings, and tail black ; wings with 2 yellow bands. 



This species was first made known by the exploring 

 party of Lewis and Clark. It is a frequent inhabitant of 

 the extensive prairies or grassy plains of Upper Missouri, 

 and is seen occasionally as low as the cantonment of 

 Major Long, or but a little beyond the line of settlements. 

 They are continually flitting over these vast downs, oc- 

 casionally alighting upon the stems of tall weeds, or the 

 bushes which border only the streams, and in which, as 

 well as in the grass, they build their nests. From their 

 almost terrestrial habits, it is evident they must derive 

 their food chiefly from the insects they find near, or on 

 the ground, as well as from the seeds of the herbage in 

 which they principally dwell ; they also probably feed 

 on the grasshoppers with which these plains abound ; 

 and are upon the whole a common and numerous species 

 west of the Mississippi, remaining in that country near- 

 ly until the approach of October. For amusement, they 

 are frequently shot with bow and arrows by the Indian 

 boys, in defect of more important game. Though I have 

 seen many of these birds throughout the season, I have 

 no recollection of hearing them utter any modulated or 

 musical sounds ; and they appeared to me like Sparrows, 

 shj, flitting, and almost silent. 



The length of this bird is about 6^ inches. Bill yellowish horn- 

 color. Legs greyish-blue. Tail slightly forked, and edged with dull 

 whitish. — The female or yourighiid had the wings and back brown- 

 ish. 



