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 centurv. 



No. 48. 



SCARLET TANAGER. 



A. O. U. Xo. 608. Piranga erythromelas Yieill. 



Description. Adult 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 (24.1x16.3). 



General Range. Eastern 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 cry 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 



