260 THE SCARLET TANAGER. 



mirror. The scene is double, for the bird in the water is as 

 brilliant as that among the moss; and the water mirrors 

 not only the bird and the moss-covered log, but the sky. 

 I sympathize with this little creature's peaceful pleasures as 

 he dips his bill and drinks, then straightens himself up, 

 fills his throat and warbles, and drinks and warbles again. 

 Did Eden itself afford anything prettier than this of its 

 kind? Even the Creator must experience delight in such 

 quiet joys of His creatures. 



For the first week after his arrival the Tanager seems 

 anxiously waiting for his rather plain colored mate — of 

 dull green above, yellowish beneath, and dusky wings and 

 tail. I once found her, however, delicately tinged with red, 

 a genuine beauty. During this time of waiting, he will 

 keep up his chip^ chur-r-r^ sometimes in a most animated 

 manner. Only occasionally will he indulge in his fine war- 

 ble. Meanwhile he keeps almost entirely to the woods. 

 Rarely he may be seen on the fence, or he may stray to the 

 orchard, or, if you are plowing near the woods, a half-dozen 

 of these scarlet beauties may visit your furrow, and glean 

 insects, according to their common habit of diet. 



When the female arrives, shy and retiring, according to 

 the manner of female birds at such times, she at once 

 receives the most winning attentions. Now the song is 

 more frequent, the utterance of the common note may be 

 quite excited, and there is a display of graceful motions 

 and brilliant colors. See him stand before her with droop- 

 ing wings and spreading tail! How finely he hovers in her 

 presence, looking like burning scarlet amidst the black 

 cloud of his vibrating wings. Now she is joined to her 

 consort, and for the rest of the season the two are inseparable. 



Soon they retire, for the most part, pretty well into the 

 forest, generally choosing as the site for their nest the 



