"2 26 BiCKNELL oji the Singing of Birds. [October 



Pyranga rubra. Scarlet Tanager. 



With this brilliant bird, singing is continuous from the season 

 of blossoms into mid-summer. After this time it is less constant 

 and when August is -well advanced is not longer heard. But 

 during the last month of song the regularity of singing varies in 

 different years. A record of each day when the song is heard 

 will in some years be scarcely interrupted until the second week 

 of August ; in others it will show but a disconnected series of 

 dates after mid-July. After early August singing is always un- 

 certain, although straggling songs may extend the date of final 

 cessation beyond the middle of the month. Conclusive songs 

 occur at any time in the month up to the 20th. After the breed- 

 ing season an abbreviation of the song, with some loss of empha- 

 sis, is noticeable, which usually has become more marked at the 

 time of discontinuance. 



Contrary to what is true of the Robin and some other birds, 

 cool, wet weather seems to discourage singing with this species, 

 and often on those sultry summer mornings which betoken the 

 hottest days its song in full richness may be heard, though most 

 of the other birds be silenced. 



In October, toward the end of its stay, its only note is a single 

 sharp cJiip^ which, though an insignificant sound, when once 

 known cannot be mistaken for the note of any other bird. Its ordi- 

 nary call-note is likewise very distinctive. It is not often used 

 after the close of summer, although I have heard it late in Septem- 

 ber. Speaking of this well know chip-chir^ Mr. Fred. T. Jencks, 

 of Providence, R. I., has called my attention to what is undoubt- 

 edly a clear instance of geographical variation in utterance. Mr. 

 Jencks writes that he has observed that in "Illinois and Indiana 

 it has three notes, chip-cMr-ree." 



Changing from its spring and summer scarlet to autumn green, 

 this bird goes curiously counter to the order of color change from 

 spring to fall, which nature has adopted on so large a scale for our 

 landscapes. The Scarlet Tanager undergoes its change in 

 August, and early in the month may be found with its red plu- 

 mage variously invaded by the conquering yellowish and green. 

 I have found the male in externally pei-fect fall dress by mid-Sep- 

 tember ; but feather growth continues into October, when the 

 bird becomes excessively fat. 



