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THE SUMMER RED BIRD. 



Tanagra estiva, Gmel. 



PLATE XLIV. Adult Male, Young Male, and Female. 



This beautiful species is destitute of song, and is of solitary habits, 

 preferring at all times the interior of the forests, but not the densest 

 parts of them. I have observed that woods interspersed with what are 

 called scrubby hickories or stunted oaks, are favourite resorts of the 

 Summer Red Birds. 



Their residence in the United States scarcely exceeds four months. 

 None remain in any of the more southern parts of our districts. Indeed, 

 by the middle of September, it would be difficult to see a single pair in 

 the forests of Louisiana. So very tender do they seem to be in regard to 

 cold, or even temperate weather, that they seldom go farther north than 

 Boston, or the shores of Lake Erie, but prefer the sandy woodlands all 

 along the eastern shores, as far as Massachusets. 



Their flight is performed in a gliding manner when passing through 

 the woods, generally amidst the top branches of trees. Whilst migrat- 

 ing, they rise high above the trees, and pursue their journeys only during 

 the day, diving towards dusk into the thickest parts of the foliage of tall 

 trees, from which their usual unmusical but well-known notes of chicky- 

 cliucky-chuck are heard, after the light of day has disappeared. This 

 species feeds principally on insects, and especially coleoptera, some of 

 which are often of larger size than a bird of the dimensions of the 

 Summer Red Bird might be supposed capable of swallowing. It seldom 

 alights on the ground, but prefers pursuing insects on the wing, which it 

 frequently does from the dried twigs at the extremity of the branches. 



The construction of the nest of this richly clad species is nearly the 

 same in all parts of the Union in which it breeds. It is frequently fixed 

 on a branch crossing a road, or an opening of some description, or, if 

 in the woods, in some partially cleared space. It is usually placed low 

 on a horizontal branch. It is composed externally of dried stalks of 

 weeds, and is finished within with fine grass, arranged in a slovenly man- 

 ner. It is so insecurely fastened to the branch, that it may be shaken oiF 



