172 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 



plumage. We have noticed the same proceeding from the top of 

 decaying trees by the same bird in Burford township. The blue 

 bird also seems to have an sesthetic taste as regards colors, for we 

 have several times found its nest with the lining interwoven with the 

 brilliant blue feathers of the owner's wing. One may here remark 

 that the brilliant ruby tints of the tanager's plumage seem to be 

 like dove's neck lustres, very superficial, and like the peach bloom 

 on the human countenance, a sign of high health and condition, and 

 rarely preserved in cage confinement, in fact, a friend who had sev- 

 eral tame tanagers tells me that in the second or third month his 

 birds became of a bronze color. 



