108 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



In general appearance much like the last, but slower in its 



flight. It nests in sand banks or among the timbers of bridges. 



Length, 5t; wing, 4| (4-4|); tail, 2}; culmen, l. Southern Ontario 

 and Connecticut southward ; breeding throughout. 



FAMILY XII. TANAGERS (TAXAGRID.E) 



This is a large family (300- species) of tropical, tree-living 

 birds, with brilliant colors and generally weak voices. Our 

 three species are stout-billed,* migratory birds. The 

 males are mainly bright red, and without the crest 

 which is so conspicuous on the cardinal grosbeak. 



Key to the Species 



* Male red, with black wings and tail, wings without wing bars ; female, 



olive, with most under parts greenish-yellow 2. Scarlet Tanager. 



* Mate red throughout ; /i^Hja/p, yellowish-olive, witii the uiultr parts 



buffy -yellow 3. Summer Tanager. 



* With yellow or yellowish wing bars 1. Louisiana Tanager. 



1. Louisiana Tanager ((JOT. Pirdnga luclovkiUna). — An ex- 

 treme western species which has been recorded from a few of 

 the Eastern States. It is a crimson-headed, yellow-bodied tana- 

 ger, with the back, wings, and tail black; Aving with two yellow 

 bars. Female, much like the female of No. 3, but with two 



light-colored wing 

 bars. Size like that 

 of the other tana- 

 gers. Western United 

 States, from the 

 Plains to the Pacific. 



2. Scarlet Tanager 

 (608. Firdufja eryth- 

 rom^Ias). — A com- 

 mon, summer, red- 

 bodied bird, with 



Scarlet Tanager 



black wings and tail, and no wing bars. Female, olive-green 

 above, greenish-yellow below ; blackish wings and tail. This 



