258 BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



The nest is a rather shallow, saucer-shaped structure, composed of dark weed- 

 stems outside, and of light colored grass within, the colors of the two layers being 

 in abrupt contrast. It is built on the horizontal limb of some medium-sized tree, 

 often an oak or pine. The eggs are usually three in number, laid in May or June, 

 and are light green in ground-color, spotted, speckled, and blotched with various 

 shades of lilac, brownish-purple and dark brown; average size .95 x .65. 



FIG. 206. SUMMER TANAGER. 



The Summer Tanager is a better singer than its more gaudy relative in scarlet 

 and black, and its song is even more like that of the Robin, but is more continuous. 



Both the Tanagers are woodland birds, the present species being equally at 

 home in pine forests, mixed woods, groves of shade trees near houses, or mulberry 

 orchards. In matters of diet it seems to prefer bees and wasps. Its bill is well 

 fitted for the task of quickly crushing stinging insects. 



Although the fact is not mentioned in Chapman's descriptions, the females not 

 infrequently have the plumage more or less flushed with red. 



47. FAMILY HIRUNDINIDyC. SWALLOWS 



Swallows are found in all parts of the world, and may be known from other 

 perching birds by their long, pointed wings, and deeply cleft mouth, the latter being 

 a veritable dip-net with which the bird catches its insect-prey while on the wing 



Six genera occur with us. 



KEY TO GENERA 



1. Color of upperparts brown. See 2. 



1. Color of upperparts more or less bluish. See 3. 



2. Outer web of outer primary with stiff recurved hooks. Stelgidopteryx. 



2. Outer web of outer primary without hooks. Riparia. 



3. Tail forked for more than half its length. Hirundo. 



3. Tail not forked for more than half its length. See 4. 



4. Length more than 7.00. Progne. 



4. Length less than 7.00. See 5. 



5. Throat white. Iridoprocne. 



5. Throat chestnut. Petrochelidon, 



