BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



season when the foliage is late in coming out 

 he is very noticeable among the dull branches. 

 The Tanager's nest is built on a horizontal limb 

 of a tree, usually in some secluded spot. Last 

 spring a pair came almost to the door, appar- 

 ently looking for nesting material, but we could 

 not induce them to stay and nest there. Later 

 we found that they had gone to the larger trees 

 below the bank. 



Beside the brilliant Tanager his mate looks 

 very plain in her coloring of olive green and 

 brown and greenish yellow. One of nature's 

 means of protecting the nests of bright plum- 

 aged birds is to clothe the mother bird in quiet 

 shades. If she were bright she would attract 

 attention to the nest, but her coloring blends 

 with the trees and the material of the nest. 

 When bringing out her family she escapes 

 notice, while the father bird, with his bright 

 plumage, can draw attention away from the 

 nest by simply flying in the other direction. 



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