THE YOUNG ORNITHOLOGISF. 



For the Young Ornithologist. 



THE RED-SHOULDER HAWK. 



(Buteo Lineatus) 



This is one of the most common 

 hawks of this region, and is plenti- 

 fully distributed throughout the 

 Northern states. 



The male is about twenty inches in 

 length, the female twenty-two. The 

 wing coverts from the body to the 

 first joint are bright rufous. The 

 upper parts are brown, the under 

 parts pale yellowish-brown, and the 

 tail brownish-black, with five trans- 

 verse bands of white, and tipped 

 with white. 



Its note is a discordant ki-yi-i, 

 which it utters while soaring high 

 above the trees. 



I have often heard it mimicked by 

 the Blue Jay to such perfection that 

 it was almost impossible to distin- 

 guish between them. 



The nest, which is composed of 

 coarse sticks and twigs,and lined with 

 leaves and sprays of green pine, is 

 generally placed in the top of a tall 

 oak tree, and is a very bulky affair. 



The number of eggs is given by 

 some authors as four or five, but I 

 have never seen more than three in a 

 clutch, and I have collected four sets 

 of fresh eggs, besides having found 

 two containing young birds. The nest 

 is placed so high up that it is usually 

 a difficult and dangerous task to obtain 

 the eggs. 



My method is to f ascen a small pail or 

 basket to my person, and with a good 

 ball of twine in my pocket, I mount the 

 tree. Upon reaching the nest I dep- 

 osit the eggs in the pail or basket, and 

 lower it to the ground by means of the 

 twine. Fred. S. Odle, 



Lapeer, Mich. 



THE TANAGERS. 



The Tanagers form a numerous 

 group of birds, the majority of which 

 are confined to the tropical regions of 

 America. Among the feathered tribes 

 they are conspicuous for the brilliant 

 plumage with which they are adorned. 



Only one species, the well-known 

 and much-admired Scarlet Tanager, 

 is a Summer visitant of Canada ; but 

 jn form and many of their habits the 

 Grosbeaks and some of the Finches 

 have a strong resemblance. 



THE SCARLET TANAGER. 



{Pyranga rubra.) 

 The Scarlet Tanager is one of the 

 most beautiful and admired of Cana- 

 dian wild-birds. With the exception 

 of the wings and tail, which are a vel- 

 vet black ; the whole of the body of the 

 male is adorned with an elegant plum- 

 age of rich scarlet. Its beautiful 

 form, brilliant plumage, and graceful 

 movements, when seen among the 

 green branches of the trees, or flitting 

 over the newly sown fields, or among 

 the blosoming flowers, gives it a very 

 fascinating appearance, which excites 

 the admiration of every beholder, 

 and renders it one of the most welcome 

 of our Summer visitors. The Tanager 

 is not among the earliest of our spring 

 migrants, but as soon as the woods 

 have begun to assume the emerald 

 garb of Summer, and the insect tribes 

 aroused by the heat of the solar rays 

 to renewed life and activity, leave 

 their doi'mant state, and flit again 

 through the genial air, this species, 

 impelled by migratory instinct and 

 the love of its native woods once more 

 returns from the tropic regions where 



