THE TANAGER FAMILY 77 
so quiet that she was gradually getting over her 
fright, and coming nearer the nest, when sud- 
denly the big dog we had with us gave a loud 
sneeze. In an instant both birds were off, as 
if shot out of a gun. And I think they never 
came back, for the nest was not finished. 
The song of the tanager is much lke the robin 
song, but having once learned it, a sharp ear 
can easily tell them apart, for it is of a differ- 
ent tone. Itis rather hoarse, not so smooth as 
a robin’s voice. The common call is a hoarse 
and very distinct “chip, chur,” given by both of 
the pair. 
Several years ago I saw a scarlet tanager in a 
bird store. It was winter, and I brought him 
home to keep till it was safe to set him free in 
the spring. He was very timid, and did not like 
to have any one look at him, especially when he 
went to eat. 
If I happened to look at him when he was at 
his food-dish, he would instantly fly to his top 
perch, and look as if he would never eat again. 
So I partitioned off one corner of his cage for 
a private dining-room, by a strip of stiff paper 
woven between the wires. After that it was very 
droll to see him retire behind the screen and eat, 
now and then sticking up his head to glance over 
the top, and see if I were looking. 
