128 BIRDS OF THE PASTURE AND FOREST. 



and breast, and a black band extending from the nostrils 

 over the eye. The black band and the yellow throat are 

 the marks by which the bird is readily identified. From 

 its habits of perching low, frequenting the undergrowth 

 near the edge of the wood, building upon the ground, and 

 seldom visiting the higher branches of trees, it has ob- 

 tained the name of Ground Warbler. 



THE SCARLET TANAGER. 



When I was about seven years of age I first saw the 

 Scarlet Tanager, lying dead in a heap of birds which had 

 been shot by two Spaniards, who were my father's private 

 pupils. The fine plumage of this bird soon attracted my 

 attention. But it was long before I could feel reconciled 

 to this slaughter, though delighted with the opportunity 

 of examining the different birds in the heap. Since that 

 time I have often found the Scarlet Tanager in the game- 

 bags of young sportsmen ; but I have seldom seen in the 

 woods more than two or three birds of this species in any 

 one season. 



Low grounds and oaken woods are the Tanager's favor- 

 ite habitats. It nestles in the deep forest, and builds a 

 loosely constructed nest of soft grass and slender brush, 

 forming a shallow basket which is lodged upon some hor- 

 izontal bough of oak or pine. This bird, however, dis- 

 plays no skill as a basket-maker, hardly surpassing even 

 the Turtle-Dove as an architect. The eggs are speckled 

 on a ground of dull pea-green. The male Tanager sings 

 with considerable power a sort of interrupted song, modu- 

 lated a little after the manner of the Thrush. Samuels 

 kept one confined six months in a cage, and in a week 

 after its capture it submitted quietly to its confinement, 

 and became tuneful. He compares its song to that of the 

 Eobin, mixed with some ventriloquial notes. We hear this 

 bird in the deep wood more frequently than outside of it. 



