In the Woods. 145 



come under the eye of the observer. They have not been recorded from the 

 West Indies, and their route of travel is not well determined. 



The song is said to be almost identical with that of the Red-eyed Vireo, 

 and its general habits to be similar. 



The Summer Tanager is about seven inches and a half long, and the 



male birds are light vermilion red throughout, brighter on the lower, duller on 



the upper parts. The wings and tail are dusky, edged 



Summer Tanager. ^^itl^ red. The female is plain olive, green above, and 



Piranga rubra (Linn.). ^ ' o ' 



saffron or yellowish buff beneath. Immature birds are like 

 the females in general appearance. 



The nest is made of rather coarse dry grass and plant stalks, is shallow 

 and loosely put together, and is located near the end of the limb, usually 

 about twenty feet from the ground. The eggs are greenish blue, profusely 

 spotted all over, with brown markings of varying shades. They are a little 

 over nine tenths of an inch long, and nearly seven tenths of an inch in width. 



The birds are found in Eastern North America, north to Southern New 

 Jersey and Illinois, and accidental occurrences have been recorded at more 

 northern points. They breed throughout their regular range, and winter in 

 Central America and Northern South America. 



Tanagers, especially male birds, exhibit a marked amount of individuality 

 in the shade and intensity of their gay colors ; and it is not uncommon to 

 find individuals of a color and sometimes pattern far from that of typical 

 birds. Thus male Summer Tanagers are, during the breeding season, 

 occasionally bright yellow or pale rose color, and I have secured specimens 

 that show the two colors mixed, when the birds seemed to be in full nuptial 

 dress and not moulting. 



This bird is rather smaller than the Summer Tanager, about seven 



inches long. The brilliant male in his intense scarlet coat, relieved in fine 



contrast by his lustrous black wings and tail, is familiar 



^ ■ to all. The female is olive green above, with rather 



Piranga erythromelas Vicill. _ _ ^ 



dusky greenish wings and tail, and the under parts are 

 greenish yellow. Young males are like the female, but have blacker wings 

 and tail. The adult male moults his scarlet coat in late August, and in the fall 

 and winter is much like the female, save that the back is richer olive green. 



