SONG-BIRDS. Tanager 



three feet of the top, and they are almost all wider than 

 they are high, as is frequently the case with mouse-holes. 

 These tunnels vary from a foot to eighteen inches in length, 

 and at the end are the wisps of grass and feathers that 

 hold the fragile white eggs. The feathers of many different 

 birds are found in the nests of this colony, — the breast- 

 feathers of Ducks, Gulls, and various Shore-birds, which are 

 not in this vicinity at the Swallow's nesting-time. In the 

 autumn and winter many Water-birds are wounded by gun- 

 ners, but escape notice, and, drifting ashore, become wedged 

 between rocks and stones, and I think that it is mainly 

 from the scraps of down adhering to such carcasses that 

 this colony lines its nests. 



The Swallows, as a family, show great inventive qualities 

 in the way in which they have adapted their habits to the 

 encroachments of civilization. Now, almost wholly domes- 

 ticated, they seem to prefer man's company, and each one 

 has appropriated a separate location for nesting. The Bank 

 Swallow adheres the most closely to his original haunts; 

 but even he may be found occasionally building under a 

 bridge. 



The Eough-winged Swallow is another species, which 

 closely resembles the Bank Swallow, being slightly larger ; 

 but, as you would scarcely distinguish it when on the wing, 

 it does not need a separate description. 



FAMILY TANAGRID^: TANAGERS. 

 Scarlet Tanager: JPiranga erythromelas, 



Plate 26. 



Length : 6.75-7 inches. 



Male : A rich scarlet. Wings and tail black. Feet deep hom colour. 



Female : Olive-green above ; dull olive-yellow below. Wings and tail 



dusky. 

 Song : Mellow and cheerful, — " Pshaw ! wait — wait — wait for me, 



wait ! ' ' Call note ' ' chip-chur ! ' ' 

 Season : Arrives the middle of May, and leaves in late August. Nq 



longer common. 



131 



