BiEDS OF Indiana. 987 



In southern Illinois, according to Mr. Ridgway, they prefer the high 

 timber of bottom lands to upland woods. In the northern part of the 

 State the upland oak woods are favorite haunts. 



Mr. Bicknell says their ordinary note is chip-chirr, but quotes Mr. 

 F. T. Jencks as saying that, in Illinois and Indiana, it has three notes 

 — chip-chir-ree. He notes that its song may be heard until August 

 20 (The Auk, Yol. I., 1884, p. 326). To me it seems to utter a 

 chucl--ah or chuck-ur, which is one of the characteristic sounds of the 

 woodland. The Scarlet Tanager has a song, too, which it sings from 

 the top of some tree. Mr. Ridgway says this resembles "somewhat 

 that of the Robin in its modulation, but is shriller in tone, more hur- 

 ried, and enunciated in a peculiar, wavering style." 



In spring, the males are observed in advance of the females, but 

 usually only a few days at most. Mating follows at once upon the 

 arrival of the latter. I observed them mating, May 4, 1886. May 

 15, 1897, one of my sons found an egg of this species on the ground, 

 where it had in some manner been dropped. I found a nest, with 

 eggs. May 20, 1886. The latter part of May and through early June 

 nests may be found containing eggs. Their nest is a frequent recep- 

 tacle for the Qgg of the Cowbird. Scarlet Tanagers begin to be less 

 numerous in August, and generally leave before the middle of Sep- 

 tember. However, specimens have been observed at Chicago, 111., 

 October 3, 1895; Brookville, Ind., October 6, 1894; Zanesville, Octo- 

 ber 22, 1896; Lebanon, September 29, 1894. 



They live principally upon insects and destroy great numbers of 

 those kinds that frequent forest trees. Dr. B. H. Warren examined 

 29 specimens and found that, with the exception of two, which had 

 eaten cherries, their food was entirely insects, largely beetles (Birds 

 of Pa., 2d Ed., p. 251). Prof. P. H. King also examined 29 specimens, 

 and found their principal food was as follows: 26 caterpillars, 47 

 beetles, 11 spiders, 7 grasshoppers. They also had eaten ants, ichneu- 

 mon flies, 6 diptera, 6 hemipterous insects, 1 dragon fly. Curculios, 

 elaters and leaf-chafers formed a part of the beetles eaten (Geol. of 

 Wis., I., p. 512). 



"At least three years seem to be required for the assumption of the 

 perfect plumage of the male. In the first year the young male is like 

 the female, but has black wings and tail; in the fall red feathers begin 

 to make their appearance, and the following spring the red predomi- 

 nates in patches'' (B. B. and R., Hist. N. A. Birds, I., p. 435). Occa- 

 sionally, also, the female assumes, in part or wholly, the plumage of 

 the male (The Auk, July, 1891, pp. 315, 316; Ibid, October, 1897, 

 pp. 406, 407). 



