THE BIRDS OF WAYNE COUNTY. 



317 



FAMILY TANAQRID/E. TANAGERS. 

 GENUS PIRANGA VIEILLOT. 



129. Piranga erythromelas VIEILL. 

 Scarlet Tanager. 



A common summer resident, but usually most numerous during the spring migra- 

 tion. The dates of its arrival vary from May i to May 7, and it lingers in fall usually 

 until late in September, being in 1890 last observed on October 3. 



The breeding season begins about the middle of May, completed nests having 

 been noted on the twenty-second of this month. It is exceptional to find other than 

 incubated eggs after the middle of June. While a woodland situation is commonly 

 chosen, an orchard tree is not infrequently the nesting site, particularly if the orchard 

 be in proximity to a tract of woods. 



The measurements of four nests are as follows : 



This species is a frequent nurse of the Cowbird, and often when the egg of this 

 imposter is present only two or three eggs of the Tanager are deposited. In fact, 

 one nest that was carefully watched from the time of its construction until incubation 

 of the eggs was nearly half completed, contained but one egg of its owner and one 

 of the Cowbird. 



The Scarlet Tanager begins to sing soon after its arrival, and continues in song 

 until late in July. It has not been heard subsequent to the twenty-seventh of this 

 month. 



FAMILY HIRUNDINID^C. SWALLOWS. 

 GENUS PROGNE BOIE. 



130. Progne subis (LINN.). 

 Purple Martin. 



An abundant summer resident. It makes its spring appearance generally between 

 the first and the eighth of April, though in 1892 it was seen on March 25. It usually 

 disappears during the latter part of August or the first days of September; a solitary 

 individual, however, was noted on September 20, 1893. 



A Martin box on one of the main streets of Wooster is every spring regularly 

 preempted by the House Sparrows before the arrival of the rightful tenants. The 



