I30 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



NESTS AND EGGS. 



The nest is completed and eggs laid about the latter part of May. It is 

 placed not very far from the ground on a horizontal limb, it may be in 

 any variety of tree, but one near the edge of the woods or a clearing is 

 generally used. Sometimes they will build in an orchard. The nest is 

 made of twigs and bark, lined with grasses and rootlets. It is rather 

 loosely constructed. The eggs are three or four in number, of a greenish 

 blue ground color, spotted and blotched with reddish brown, rather most 

 at the larger end. 



HABITS. 



"Cher-ee, cher-er-r-r, cher-ee-er-r-r," a clear warbling whistle comes 

 from the depths of the woods. You pause and listen. Soon it is repeated. 

 Perhaps this is a new note to you. Guided by the strange sound which is 

 heard at frequent intervals, you go forwards. Finally you come to a stop 

 under a large pine that raises its head proudly above the surrounding oaks. 

 You walk about it looking closely along all the branches. Surely the sound 

 comes from this tree, but where can the bird be. Ah! You do not know 

 him. Just step back a few paces and look at the very top of the tree. 

 There with head raised just giving forth his unmistakable song is the bird. 

 And what a bird! The Tropics contain many gaudy and varicolored spec- 

 ies, but none can surpass this. The bright intense scarlet of the tanager 

 cannot be imitated by man. Nature alone can attain such perfection. To 

 render the red more brilliant by comparison, his wings and tail are coal 

 black. As we have so good an opportunity, we will watch this bird 

 awhile. For some minutes his song rings out at regular intervals. Then 

 doubtless thinking he is wasting too much time, he decends to the top of 

 an oalc, and goes to work. He is one of the most persistent destroyers of 

 caterpillars that we have. 



As if realizing there is danger in his bright plumage, he does not hop 

 about as most birds do, thereby rendering themselves conspicuous, but 

 perches quietly in one place until he has consumed everything edible that 

 is within reach, when he flies to another branch. This accounts for 

 the Tanager being called a rare bird in many localities, v, hen they are 

 in reality quite common. His brilliant coat, which would attract atten- 

 tion to him at once if he were in motion, is scarcely noticeable among the 

 green leaves if he is quiet. The Tanager, and all other birds, too, 

 should be hunted by ear rather than by eye. His note can easily be 

 heard and recognized at a distance of half a mile, whereas you may pass 

 right by and not see him if your ears are not open to the bird music about 

 you. 



But come back to the bird that we were watching. We notice that he 

 has been gradually approaching a clearing. Now he appears to notice you 

 for the lirst time and instead of hearing his cheerful song, you are greeted 



