CHAPTER XXXVIII. 



September 11 September 17. 



THE SCARLET TANAGER. 



Order Passeres Suborder Oscines 



Family Tanagridse Genus Piranga 



Species Piranga erythromelas 



Length 6 150 to 7.50 ; wing, 3.55 to 3.90 ; tail, 2.80 to 3.25. 

 Migration North, April ; south, September. 



"A flame, a wandering fire, 

 With wavering desire 



From bough to bough. 

 Thou winged, wondrous thing!- 

 Of glad, of golden spring 



The soul art thou, 

 A flame, a wandering fire." 



The family Tanagridge, composed of the tanagers, has in 

 it about three hundred and fifty species, all of whom are Amer- 

 ican birds. Only thirty-five of them are found in the United 

 States. Of these the summer and scarlet tanagers are found in 

 the Middle West. The family as a whole are noted for the 

 brilliancy of their plumage. They are .forest loving birds and 

 feed, on the flowers, fruits and insects found there. As a rule 

 they are not musical, but the scarlet tanager is an exception 

 to the rule. 



The scarlet tanager is known by the other names of black- 

 winged redbird, firebird, pocket-bird, and Canada tanager. The 

 bill of the adult male is heavy at the base, arches and termi- 



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