‘THE SCARLET TANAGER. 107 
reported it as rare in Ohio, while to Kirtland it was unknown. Dr. Wheaton 
considered it very common from 1860 on. It is somewhat irregular in its ap- 
pearance, and while certain sections may swarm with them one year, it may be 
unknown in the next county and may disappear entirely the following season. It 
is doubtful whether its numbers have increased with us during the past quarter 
of a century. 
No. 48. 
SCARLET TANAGER. 
VA. O. U. No. 608. Piranga erythromelas Vieill. 
Description.—ddult male: Scarlet vermilion; wings and tail black; lining 
of wing white; bill and feet blackish. Adult female: Entirely different; above 
olive-green; below greenish yellow; wings and tail dusky with greenish edging; 
bill and feet brown. Young male and adult male in winter: Similar to female 
but brighter; wings, tail and bill black. During moults and irregularly at other 
times the males show anomalous variegation of black, olive-green, scarlet, and 
dusky in patches. Length 6.50-7.50 (165.1-190.5) ; av. of eight Columbus speci- 
mens: wing, 3.81 (96.8) ; tail, 2.61 (66.3) ; bill, length along culmen .61 (15.5) ; 
breadth at nostril, .34 (8.6). Sexes equal sized. 
Recognition Marks.—Sparrow size, but appearing larger because of bright 
colors; scarlet and black of male; olive-green and dusky of female. 
Nest, rather loosely constructed of twigs, weed-stalks and bark-strips, lined 
with rootlets, blossom-stems, etc.; shallow and flat; placed from ten to fifty feet 
high on horizontal limb in orchard or grove. Eggs, 3-4, greenish blue, with spots 
and blotches of reddish brown, tending to run together in patches. Av. size, .95 x 
(64) (2ArT x 1613) 
General Range.—E astern United States, west to Plains, north to Manitoba, 
Ontario, etc. In winter south to West Indies, Mexico, Central America and 
northern South America. 
Range in Ohio.—Of general distribution, but less common southerly. Sum- 
mer resident. 
THOSE who haunt the woods in maying time are almost sure to see a 
vision of scarlet and black revealing itself for a moment in the higher tree- 
tops, but swallowed up again all too soon by the consuming green. If, how- 
ever, the leaves are not yet fully sprung the Tanager will move about quietly 
or sit rather stupidly in the middle branches, as tho bored by the lack of green 
and at a loss what to do with his brightness. At this time his chic burr, or 
chip-bird ery is readily traced to its source and soon becomes one of the more 
familiar sounds of the woodland. ‘The female is more modestly attired in 
a habit which blends perfectly with the foliage; but altho so different in color 
from her mate she is not hard to recognize, for she has much the same build 
