SUMMER EEDBIED. 285 



Pyranga assiiva, Audubon, B. Am , iii, 1841, 222. — Whbaton, Ohio Agric. Eep. for 1860, 

 3b4, 374; Keprint, ISdl, 6, 16; Food of Birds, etc., Ohio Agric. Eep. for 1S74, 564; 

 Eepriut, 1875, 4.— Langdon, Cat. Birds of Cin., 1877, 7 ; Kevised List, Journ. Cin. 

 Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 174; Eepriat, 8. 



Tanagra ceativa, Gmelin, Sjst. Nat, i, 1788, 8tt9. 



Pyranga wativa, Vibillot, N. D. d'H. N., 2d ed., xxviii, 1819, 291. 



Male, rich rose-red or vermilion, including wings and tail; the wings, however, dusky 

 mon the iuner webs; bill rather pale; feet darker. Female dull hrownish-oUve ; below, 

 dull irownish-yellow. Young male like the female; the male changing plumage, shows 

 red and gieeu confused in irregular patches, but no black. The female, wiih a general 

 resemblance to female ruira, is distinguished by the dull brownish, ochre or buff^ tinge, 

 the greenish and yoUowish of r«6ro being much purer; the bill and feet also are gen- 

 much paler in CEstiva. Size of rubra or rather larger. 



Habitat, Eastern United States ; north regularly to the Connecticut Valley, casually 

 to Massachusetts and Nova Scotia ; west to Kansas, Indian Territory, and Texas ; south 

 to Ecuador and Peru. Cuba. Jamaica. 



Common summer resident in southern, rare in Northern Ohio. Dr. 

 Kirtland notes a specimen taken in Trumbull county. Mr. Read gives it 

 as not uncommon. I have seen a single sptcimen, several years since, 

 in this locality, and one specimen from Lancaster. Dr. Howard E. Jones 

 informs me that it is not rare at Circleville, twenty five miles south of 

 Columbus. Mr. Langdon states that, in the vicinity of Cincinnati, it is 

 a common summer resident from May 1st to September 25th. 



In habits this species resembles the Scarlet Tanager, except that it is 

 less retiring, frequenting open groves and orchards, ai-d olten visiting 

 towns and cities. The nest is placed on the horizontal or arooping 

 branch of a tree, and is constructed of various vegetable substances, olten 

 so thin that the eggs may be seen from below. 



The eggs vary in size from four-fifths of an inch to an inch in length, 

 and average about two-thirds of an inch in breadth. "Their color is a 

 bright light shade of emerald-green, spotted, marbled, dotted, and blotched 

 with various shades of lilac, brownish-purple, and dark-brown. These 

 are generally well diffused over the entire egg." 



FAMILY HIRUNDINID^. THE SWALLOWS. 



Primari«s nine. Bill triangular, depressed, about as wide at base as long ; the gape 

 twice as long as the culmen, reaching to about opposite the eyes; tomia straight or 

 gently curved. No obvious riotal bristles. Tarsi not longer than the lateral toe and 

 claw. Wings long and pointed, the first primary equal to or longer than the second. 

 Central tail-feathers not half as long as the wing. 



