548 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 



"Arrives about May 20th, and remains wholly among well- 

 grown trees. Is much more abundant during some summers 

 than others, although can never be said to be rare. Are shy, 

 restless, and a silent bird. Were it not for the brilliancy of 

 their plumage, would seldom be noticed. They build in trees, 

 generally at considerable elevation, raising but the one brood. 

 They feed principally upon coleopterous insects. Strictly inof- 

 fensive. Are largely destroyed by law-breaking * bird-stuffers,' 

 who well know their value when mounted in a ' case of birds.' " 

 — [C. C. A.] 



P. rubra, L. [sestiva, L.) Summer Redbird, or Tanager. 



Cutting edge of upper mandible not toothed ; male bright rose 

 red throughout ; wings a little dusky ; female dull brownish 

 olive above, dull yellowish below; no wing bars. Length, 1\ 

 inches; tail, 3 inches. 



" During the past fifteen years this bird has been emphatically 

 a rare bird, but up to 1850 was almost as numerous as the pre- 

 ceding. Without any decided alteration in the surface of the 

 country generally, or material change in the climate, as com- 

 pared with twenty years ago, to account for it, we have the 

 statement to make that the summer redbird is now * rare.' 

 Were we writing in 1845, we would record it as 'abundant.' 

 The last specimen seen by the author was in June, 1862 — a 

 female — and although the most careful search was instituted, no 

 other was detected in the neighborhood. On making inquiry in 

 many and distant localities, I have been very frequently assured 

 of their presence, but it has always proved that the * cardinal ' 

 was the bird which they supposed was referred to. — [C. C. A.] 



" Breeds in tangled briar-patches, raising a single brood. 

 Have occasionally — not since 1855 — found the nests in cedar 

 trees. They feed largely upon coleopterous insects, and are in 

 nowise injurious to fruit growers. Generally remained during 

 September, though were not found after the appearance of a hard 

 frost." 



P. ludoviciana, Wils. Louisiana Tanager. 



The Louisiana tanager has been found accidentally in Massa- 

 chusetts. The female is as in preceding, but has wing bars ; the 

 male is bright yellow, with black tail, and wings black ; the head 

 scarlet ; yellow wing bars. 



