AVES—RED-BIRD. 531 
the habitations of man, unless perhaps to the orchard, where he sometimes 
builds; or to the cherry trees in search of fruit. The depths of the woods 
are his favorite abode. There, among the thick foliage of the tallest trees, 
his simple, and almost monotonous notes of chip, churr, repeated at intervals 
in a pensive tone, may be occasionally heard, which appear to proceed from 
a considerable distance, though the bird be immediately above you ; a faculty 
hestowed upon him by the beneficent Author of nature, no doubt for his 
protection, to compensate in a degree for the danger to which his glowing 
color would often expose him. Besides this usual note, he has, at times, a 
more musical chant. His food consists of large winged insects, such as 
wasps, hornets, and humble bees, and also of fruit. His nest is built on the 
horizontal branch of a tree, sometimes an apple tree, and is but slightly put 
together; stalksof broken flax, and dry grass, so thinly woven together, that 
the light is easily perceivable through it, from the repository of his young. 
His manners are modest, easy, and inoffensive. He commits no depreda- 
tions on the property of the husbandman; but rather benefits him by the 
daily destruction of many noxious insects; and when winter approaches, he 
is no plundering dependant, but seeks in a distant country that sustenance 
which the severity of the season denies to his industry in this. He isa 
striking ornament to our rural scenery, and none of the meanest of our rural 
songsters. Such being the true traits of his character, we shall always 
with pleasure welcome this beautiful stranger to our orchards, groves, and 
forests. rd 
When you approach the nest, the male keeps cautiously at a distance, as 
if fear'ul of being seen; while the female hovers round in the greatest 
agitarion and distress. When the young leave the nest, the male parent 
takes a most active part in feeding and attending them, and is then altogether 
in? €crent of concealment. 
THE SUMMER RED-BIRD.! 
xe changes of color which this bird is subject to, during the first year, 
save deceived European naturalists so much, that four different species of 
tanager have been formed out of this one. The female differs much in color 
from t!» male. The food of this bird consists of various kinds of bugs, and 
large tiick beetles. During the season of whortleberries they seem to live 
ilme-.t entirely upon them. In Pennsylvania they are rare, but in New 
ferse7 shey may be generally found. The note of the male is a strong and 
on», whistle, resembling a loose trill or shake on the notes of a fife, 
1Tanagra estiva, Witson. * 
