BIRD PARADISE 153 



engaged in a spirited rivalry, each eager to outdo 

 the other. After I have watched them a few 

 minutes I find myself wondering how bodies that 

 are turning in every direction, never still a mo- 

 ment, can carry with them level heads. The full 

 interpretation of it all is in the deed itself. So 

 far as I can see they are never at fault for a mo- 

 ment. Year in and year out they keep up their 

 rapid pace and seem to be never in the least at 

 fault. In the game of bird athletics they have no 

 superior. 



The scarlet tanager family seems to be increaa- 

 ing in numbers. I hear of several being seen in the 

 orchards of our hill country. In my boyhood 

 they came out into the trees about the house 

 every season, but for a number of years I have 

 not seen one only in the wood, and only a few 

 there. His name of fire bird is most appropriate, 

 for his appearance in the forest is that of a gleam 

 of fire among the green leaves. The male bird 

 wears the brilliant colors and does all the singing. 

 The song of the tanager is a pleasing succession 

 of notes, readily distinguished among the wood 

 birds. The female and the young birds wear 

 suits of sober colors, otherwise they would all fall 



