170 SCABLET TANAGEB 



Scarlet Tanager : Piranga erytliromelas. 



Adult male, whole body bright scarlet ; bill, wiiigs, and tail 

 black ; uuder wings white. Adult female, upper parts light 

 olive ; wings and tail brownish ; under parts greenish yellow. 

 Young male and adidt male in winter, similar to female, but 

 wings and tail black. Length, 7j inches. 



Geographic Distribution. — Eastern North America ; breeds 

 from southern Illinois and Virginia to Manitoba and New 

 Brunswick ; winters in Central and northern South America. 



Whenever we hear a thin eeh in a treetop, 



though its maker is invisible, we can say with 



assurance that a Grosbeak is 



there ; and so, when we hear a 



call of cldp-cliiirr in the green 



leafy woods, we know that we 



are listening to that most 



T,.„ s,'Ji ' brilliant of North American 



Bill of lanager. 



birds, the Scarlet Tanager. 

 It may or may not be an easy matter to find him, 

 for, though on the migrations he is often seen in 

 low bushes, his choice is usually for the massive 

 green treetops. His song is the best clue, for 

 it is a loud, swinging-pendulum song, — like the 

 Grosbeak's, only less smoothly rounded, — and by 

 getting its direction, as the bird moves about, you 

 can catch at least a passing glimpse of his glow- 

 ing coat and glossy black wings and tail. And 

 there are moments when a glimpse is enough. It 

 is all very well if alone in a leaf 3^ vale, with 

 nothins: to do but dream under the enchanter's 



