540 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



Peninsula, although reported from every point in the Upper 

 Peninsula (except Isle Royale) where full observations have \^ 

 been made. It arrives in the southern part of the state late 

 in April or early in May, and from one to three weeks later f "^ 

 in the northern parts of the state. It was reported from Fig 122 Bill 

 Petersburg April 23, 1886, April 27, 1888, May 1, 1887 and of sca^et Tan- 

 1891, May 2, 1892 and 1894, May 5, 1897, and May 6, 1893 ^ ' 

 and 1898. From Bay City we have one report for April 16, which is the 

 earliest record for the state and is probably a mistake, other records from 

 Bay City ranging from May 2 to May 25.* The arrivals at Lansing fall 

 between April 26, 1902 and May 7, 1901. There is a single record for 

 Sault Ste. Marie, May 21, 1900. 



The Tanager is looked upon generally as a rare bird, but to one who is 

 familiar with its robin-like song, and especiall}^ with its characteristic 

 call-note, described b}' Samuels as "chip-churr," the bird is far from rare. 

 During the height of the spring migration a good observer may find from 

 twenty to fifty of these birds in a forenoon's walk, while the writer has 

 occasionally seen several hundreds in the course of a day. In spite of its 

 brilliant color the male is far from conspicuous, and it is no uncommon 

 thing for one to sing for several moments, in full sight and at close range, 

 without being located. Red and green being complementary colors the 

 eye often fails to note the spot of deep red in the midst of the green. 



The nest is rather loosely constructed of twigs, rootlets and similar fibrous 

 materials, and is usually placed on the horizontal branch of a forest tree 

 at some httle distance from the trunk, but ordinarily less than twenty 

 feet from the ground. Occasionally it is placed close against the trunk, 

 and more rarely still in the upright fork of a small tree. The eggs are three 

 to five, blue green spotted with brown and purple, and average .94 by .65 

 inches. They are most often found during the first two weeks of June, 

 but we have records from Kalamazoo county, by R. B. Westnedge, from 

 May 29 (1891) to June 21 (1888), and R. H. Wolcott records one nest 

 (presumably at Grand Rapids) as early as May 12. No doubt a second 

 brood is reared occasionally, since young just able to fly are frequently 

 seen late in July or early in August, and occasional males, still in their 

 scarlet plumage, are found singing until the very last of August. 



As soon as the young are able to care for themselves the male moults his 

 red plumage and assumes very nearly the dress of the female and in this 

 plumage he moves southward, moulting again during the late winter and 

 early spring, and returning to us in the familiar red and black plumage. 

 At all times the bird appears to prefer oak woods in the neighborhood of 

 swamps, but during migration it may be found in woodlands of any 

 character. Probably the nest is most often placed in oak trees, but one 

 correspondent states that he has alwaj^s found the nest in pines, another 

 has found it in a hemlock and Dr. Wolcott found it in tamaracks. 



The Scarlet Tanager lingers with us well into September, 0. B. Warren 

 recording one at Palmer, ^larciuette county, September 11, 1893, and 

 Mr. Swales' latest record at Detroit being October 2, 1893. Probably 

 as a rule most of them have left the state by the 20th of September. 



The song at once suggests that of the Robin, but usually has a certain 

 hoarseness and a nasal character which at once serves to distinguish it. 

 There is much individual variation among the singers and occasionally 

 one is heard which far surpasses the rest. Bicknell states that "contrary 



*\'ery possibly this rfcord is based on the Cardinal. 



