SCARLET TANAGER. 235 



SCARLET TANAGER. 

 Pyranga rubra. 



Tanagra rubra, LINN. Aud. pi. 354. 

 Pyranga, rubra, VIBILL. 



OF this gay-plumaged stranger, a male and 

 female were seen in March of the present year, in 

 that wild and magnificent gorge, called the Boca- 

 guas, near Spanish Town. The brilliant appearance 

 of the male, attracted the admiration of passers 

 by, and he was at length shot, and brought to 

 Mr. Hill. 



About three weeks after this, a male, also in sum- 

 mer dress, occurred to my own observation, hopping 

 about the small fruit-trees, on the banks of Blue- 

 fields River. He was very fearless, allowing me to 

 sit and watch him within half-pistol-shot ; now and 

 then he flew down to the ground, by the side of the 

 water, and remained a few moments peeping about ; 

 then he would fly up into a shrub, and presently be 

 down again to drink ; for the season was parched 

 with drought. I watched him full half an hour, 

 before he flew away. 



Both these instances show that the Scarlet Tanager, 

 occasionally at least, takes our lovely island, in his 

 spring migration from Central America to the north. 

 He certainly does not winter with us, having been 

 until this season unknown to Mr. Hill, who for 

 many years has paid close attention to the migrant 



