40 WEST VIRGINIA [W. VA. 



Nest In a bush or among briers. Three to four pale bluish 

 white eggs. Look for the nest in old fields; 



Food Of great service about gardens where it eats many insects 

 and pernicious seeds. Especially fond of caterpillars. 



608. Scarlet Tanager (P^remgo. erytkromelas) . Male and female. 

 Note the great difference in the coloring of the male and female. 

 In the winter the male takes on the less conspicious colors of the 

 female. Is this true of other birds where the male is so much more 

 liighly colored than the female. 



Geog. Dist. Eastern United States, west to the Plains, north to 

 Ontario. 



W. Va. Dist. Common throughout the state. 



Nest Near the end of a horizontal limb, several feet from the 

 ground. Nest often found in West Virginia woods. 



Food "In its food preferences the Tanager is the appointed 

 guardian of the oaks. We are much indebted to this beautiful bird 

 for its share in the preservation of this noble and valuable tree." 

 Feeds on many destructive insects. 



610. Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra). A pair. Note that 

 this species does not have the black wings which characterize the 

 former species. 



Geog. Dist. Eastern United States, but more southern than last 

 named species. 



W. Va. Dist. Common along the Ohio, Great Kanawha, Elk, 

 and Little Kanawha Rivers. Not found in Upshur County or oth3r 

 sections up towards the mountains. 



Nest In a tree. Three to four spotted eggs. 



Food Tree-inhabiting insects. 



611. Purple Martin (Progne subis). Male and female. Our 

 largest swallow. 



Geog. Dist. Temperate North America, north to Ontario and the 

 "Saskatchewan, south to the higher parts of Mexico, wintering ia 

 'South America. 



W. Va. Dist. Common throughout the state. 



Nest In boxes or in hollow trees. 



Food Mr. Ridgeway says, "No bird of North America is more 

 deserving of protection and of encouragement to live about the 

 liabitations of man than the Purple Martin. One pair of them will 



