SCARLET TANAGER. 307 
of the forest, where, timidly flitting from observation, he darts 
from tree to tree like a flashing meteor. A gaudy sylph, con- 
scious of his brilliance and the exposure to which it subjects 
him, he seems to avoid remark, and is only solicitous to be 
known to his humble mate, and hid from all besides. He 
therefore rarely approaches the habitations of men, unless 
perhaps the skirts of the orchard, where he sometimes, how- 
ever, builds his nest, and takes a taste of the early and inviting, 
though forbidden, cherries. 
Among the thick foliage of the tree in which he seeks sup- 
port and shelter, from the lofty branches, at times we hear his 
almost monotonous ¢ship witee, tship-idee, or tshikadee, tshit- 
kadee repeated at short intervals and in a pensive undertone, 
heightened by the solitude in which he delights to dwell. The 
same note is also uttered by the female when the retreat of 
herself and young is approached ; and the male occasionally 
utters in recognition to his mate, as they perambulate the 
branches, a low whispering ’Zaz/in a tone of caution and tender- 
ness. But besides these calls on the female, he has also dur- 
ing the period of incubation, and for a considerable time after, 
a more musical strain, resembling somewhat in the mellowness 
” of its tones the song of the fifing Baltimore. The syllables 
to which I have hearkened appear like ‘¢shoove wait ’wait 
‘ychdwit wait, and ’watt ’vehdwit vea wait, with other addi- 
tions of harmony for which no words are adequate. This 
pleasing and highly musical meandering ditty is delivered for 
hours, in a contemplative mood, in the same tree with his 
busy consort. If surprised, they flit together, but soon return 
to their favorite station in the spreading boughs of the shady 
oak or hickory. The song resembles that of the Red-eyed 
Vireo in its compass and strain, though much superior, the 
‘wait wait being whistled very sweetly in several tones and 
with emphasis, so that upon the whole, our Piranga may be 
considered as duly entitled to various excellence, being harmless 
to the farmer, brilliant in plumage, and harmonious in voice. 
These birds only sojourn long enough to rear their single 
brood, which are here fledged early in July, leaving us already 
