SOMERSET HILLS 71 



Scarlet Tanager 



I think that of all birds the male of 

 this one is the most beautiful (Frontis- 

 piece). What can you imagine more 

 lovely in color than this scarlet bird, 

 with black wings and tail, perched 

 amongst green leaves? You rarely see 

 him outside of a wood with green 

 foliage. In this he makes his home, and 

 to its coloring his mate is matched. He 

 is green in winter like the female, except 

 that he retains his black wings, whereas 

 her wings are brown. 



His song is somewhat like that of a 

 Robin, only more grating. He also 

 possesses a note sounding like ^^ chip- 

 chirr/' also of a grating quality. The 

 nest of the Tanager is a loose affair of 

 sticks situated in a tree. The Scarlet 

 Tanagers arrive late in spring, and de- 

 part early in the fall, wintering in 

 Central and South America. 



