58 BIRD-SONGS ABOUT WORCESTER. 



our thick woods, is the briUiant scarlet 

 tanager (^py/anga rubra). This bird is all 

 the more conspicuous, as his flaming plu- 

 mage is generally set off in strong relief 

 against the dark pines and hemlocks of 

 the forest, which one almost expects him 

 to ignite as he flashes through them like a 

 living coal. This tanager has jet-black 

 wings, in marked contrast to his brilliant 

 body, but a closely allied species, the sum- 

 mer red-bird {pyranga cssiiva), which is 

 abundant west of New England, is red all 

 over. The scarlet tanager is common all 

 through the Millstone Hill region, and I 

 often hear there his wild, half-suppressed 

 chip-cheer, sounding as if uttered beneath 

 his breath. Besides this note the tanager 

 has also a beautiful warbling song, so 

 much like the robin's that it is often very 

 difficult to distinguish them. There is, 

 however, a certain indescribable wildness 

 about the tanager's voice, harmonizing 

 with the deep, unfrequented woods where 

 he lives, that, after a little study, makes it 

 unmistakable. This bird is a most accom- 



