138 LAND-BIRDS. 



generally in an oak wood, but sometimes in an orchard or in 

 evergreens. Here three or four eggs are laid about the first 

 of June, averaging .90 X .65 of an inch (though I have a speci- 

 men measuring 1.10 X .70 of an inch). They are strongly 

 like the eggs of the Swainson's Thrush (1, I, Z>), being light 

 greenish blue, with usually rather faint (but sometimes thick 

 and strong) markings of umber brown, sometimes replaced by 

 purplish. 



c. The gaudy Scarlet Tanagers are summer residents 

 throughout the eastern United States, but are rare in northern 

 New England and Canada, beyond which they never (?) go. 

 They reach eastern Massachusetts in the second or third week 

 of May, and leave it in September, but during their stay here 

 are rather confined to localities. They frequent orchards, and 

 groves of chestnuts, oaks, and nut-trees, often showing a pref- 

 erence for swampy woods if not too thick. They feed upon 

 the larger winged insects, upon caterpillars, upon seeds and 

 berries, and so never have occasion to be much on the ground. 

 They often arrive in pairs, but at other times appear in small 

 parties of three or four, mating later, after the males have 

 fought the quarrels incident to the period of courtship. In 

 the latter part of May they build their loosely constructed 

 nests, and the females lay their eggs, the incubation of which 

 occupies them about thirteen days, — the usual period of incu- 

 bation among most of the insessoriaii birds. In this stage of 

 their household duties, the wonderful wisdom everywhere dis- 

 played in nature is peculiarly noticeable. The brilliantly 

 colored males carefully avoid the nest, and approach it, when 

 necessary, with caution and stealth, fearful of betraying its 

 presence ; whereas the females, with their plain coloration as- 

 similated to the surrounding foliage, sit upon it with safety, 

 and care for their young. If, however, the nest is actually 

 invaded or hostilely approached, the males show themselves, 

 with their plumage in bold and rich contrast to the green 

 leaves ; and I have known them to carry off the eggs, — how, 

 I cannot positively say. I have known several instances of 

 birds removing even their young, though in many it seemed 

 almost impossible for them to do so. In the case of the 



