THE SCAELET TANAGER 461 



hue than that of the back, and the under tail-coverts are white. The female is similarly 

 coloured, but the hues are much duller than in her mate. The total length of the bird is 

 seven inches. 



On examining the wings of this bird, the observer will be struck with the curious 

 shape of the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth primary feathers, which are not 

 pointed, but are larger at the ends, rounded and hooked in a manner which is well 

 compared by Yarrell to the head of an ancient battle-axe. Perhaps the Jedburgh axe 

 is more like the shape of these curious feathers. 



Although not possessed of the glowing scarlet hue which decorates the cardinal 

 Grosbeak, the Black and Yellow Grosbeak is quite as remarkable and scarcely a less 

 handsome bu'd. 



Its ordinary habitation is in the northern parts of India, but it is a bird of strong wing, 

 and often wanders as far as Central India in search of food. Like others of the same group, 

 it mostly feeds on beriies and various stone-fruits, crushing even the hard-shelled seeds 

 and stones in its thick and powerful beak. Even at a distance, this bird is very 

 conspi3uous on account of the bold and dashing manner in which the whole of the 

 plumage is variegated with black, white, and yellow, all these colours being of the purest 

 and brightest quality. 



The whole of the upper surface and the breast are deep jetty black, with a slight 

 silken gloss when the bird is in good condition. A few snowy white spots appear on the 

 basal portions of the four central primary feathers of the wing, and several of the 

 primaries, together with the whole of the secondaries, are edged with the same hue, thus 

 presenting a very strong contrast to the jetty feathers of the back. The lower part of the 

 breast and the abdomen are bright golden yellow, so that the bird is coloured only with 

 these three decided hues, without any gradation through intermediate Imes, as is generally 

 the case in birds of bright plumage. The female is easily distinguished from her mate, 

 as the upper surface is dusky black, largely mottled with yellow uj)On the head, neck, 

 and back. The breast and abdomen are greyish yellow, profusely covered with black 

 spots resembling the " tears " in heraldry. The quality of the hue is rather variable, as 

 in some specimens the black is of the deepest, and the yellow of the richest, glossiest gold, 

 whereas in some individuals — probably the young male just entering his perfect plumage, 

 or the old male getting feeble with age — the black has a dirty look, and the yellow is 

 nearly white. In size this bird is about equal to the cardinal Grosbeak. 



The Tanagrine buxls are well represented by the Scarlet Tanager of America. 



It is a very handsome bird, decorated with lively scarlet and deep black, and is 

 possessed of a tolerable, though not especially musical voice. This is one of the migratory 

 species, arriving in the northern portions of the United States about the end of AjDrd, and 

 remaining until the breeding season is over. The nest is made of rather rough materials, 

 such as flax-.sta]ks and dry grass, and is so loosely put together that the light is perceptible 

 through the interstices of the walls. The number of eggs is generally three, and their 

 colour is dullish blue, variegated with brown and purplish spots. While engaged in the 

 business of incubation, both birds are extremely terrified at the presence of any strange 

 object, and if a human being approaches the nest, the male flies to a little distance and 

 keeps cautiously aloof, peering through the boughs at the foe, and constantly fearful of 

 being seen. The female also leaves the nest, but continues to fly restlessly about her 

 home, hovering over the eggs or young in great distress. When, however, the young are 

 hatched, the male parent takes his full share in attending upon them, and cares nothing 

 for being seen. 



The attachment of the male bird to his young seems to be very strong, as is sliown 

 by the following account, extracted from Wilson. 



" Passing through an orchard, and seeing one of these young birds that had but 

 lately left the nest, I carried it with me about half a mile to show it to my friend, 

 Mr. William Bartram, and having procured a cage, hung i-t up on one of the large pine- 

 trees in the Botanic Garden, within a few feet of the nest of an orchard oriole, which also 

 contained young, hopeful that the charity and kindness of the orioles would induce them 



