298 PERCHERS AND SINGERS 
Nature has developed the members of the Swallow Family 
to catch insects in mid-air, where very few other birds can 
successfully pursue the flying pests. For this reason, if for 
no other, all these birds should be most rigidly protected, 
and encouraged by all the blandishments known to bird- 
lovers. 
There are three Swallows which so much resemble each 
other that it requires a reference to a good handbook of birds 
to identify them. These are the Crirr, BANK and TREE 
Swattows. The Barn Swatiow can be distinguished from 
these three by its very long and deeply forked tail, the tails 
of all the others being rather short. 
THE TANAGER FAMILY 
Tanagridae 
The male ScarLeTt TANAGER! is one of the most showy 
small birds of our American Passeres. Excepting its wings, 
which are jet black, its entire plumage is of a clear scarlet 
hue, as bright as the brightest ribbon. There is no precious 
stone which compares with it, for beside it the ruby is dull. 
The cardinal grosbeak is not nearly so bright as the male 
Tanager. 
Wherever seen, the male Scarlet Tanager fixes the atten- 
tion of the observer, and challenges admiration. It is an 
early spring arrival from the South, and in Washington, D. 
C., I have seen it in the parks while the trees were yet leafless. 
Some of those which come annually to the Zoological Park, 
1 Pi-ran’ga e-ryth-ro-me'las. Length, 6.50 inches. 
