Family Tanagridce Scarlet Tanager. 95 



FAMILY TANAGRID^J 

 45. SCARLET TANAGER (Piranga erythromelas .) 



Male, in summer plumage : scarlet body ; black wings and tail. 

 Female and male in fall plumage : olive-green above ; greenish 

 yellow below ; wings and tail dusky, edged with olive green. 

 Beak large and strong, horn-colored ; feet rather delicate, some- 

 what darker than beak. Bird about halfway in size between a 

 robin and a sparrow. 



THE tanager is a rather shy bird, which frequents 

 the deeper parts of the woods. It is found in mixed 

 woods and in oak growth. It comes to the neigh- 

 borhood of Boston in the latter part of May, and 

 leaves early in September. 



The nest is usually placed in an oak-tree, from 

 ten to thirty feet above the ground. Eggs are laid 

 about the first of June. 



The song is said to be loud, clear, and flute-like, 

 resembling " somewhat that of a robin in its modu- 

 lations, but shriller in tone, more hurried, and 

 enunciated in a peculiar wavering style. 7 ' It is, 

 however, rarely heard ; for the bird sings but a few 

 weeks, and then only on warm, bright days. 



LITERATURE : 



Upland and Meadow. C. C. ABBOTT. 



In Nesting-Time. OLIVE THORNE MILLER. 



Little Brothers of the Air. IBID, 



