540 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 
Peninsula, although reported from every point in the Upper 
Peninsula (except Isle Royale) where full observations have 
been made. It arrives in the southern part of the state late aN 
in April or early in May, and from one to three weeks later # 7 
in the northern parts of the state. It was reported from pie 192. pin 
Petersburg April 23, 1886, April 27, 1888, May 1, 1887 and of Scarlet Tan- 
1891, May 2, 1892 and 1894, May 5, 1897, and May 6, 1893 
and 1898. From Bay City we have one report for April 16, which is the 
earliest record for the state and is probably a mistake, other records from 
Bay City ranging from May 2 to May 25.* The arrivals at Lansing fall 
between April 26, 1902 and May 7, 1901. There is a single record for 
Sault Ste. Marie, May 21, 1900. 
The Tanager is looked upon generally as a rare bird, but to one who is 
familiar with its robin-like song, and especially with its characteristic 
call-note, described by Samuels as “chip-churr,” the bird is far from rare. 
During the height of the spring migration a good observer may find from 
twenty to fifty of these birds in a forenoon’s walk, while the writer has 
occasionally seen several hundreds in the course of a day. In spite of its 
brilliant color the male is far from conspicuous, and it is no uncommon 
thing for one to sing for several moments, in full sight and at close range, 
without being located. Red and green being complementary colors the 
eve often fails to note the spot of deep red in the midst of the green. 
The nest is rather loosely constructed of twigs, rootlets and similar fibrous 
materials, and is usually placed on the horizontal branch of a forest tree 
at some little distance from the trunk, but ordinarily less than twenty 
feet from the ground. Occasionally it is placed close against the trunk, 
and more rarely still in the upright fork of a small tree. The eggs are three 
to five, blue green spotted with brown and purple, and average .94 by .65 
inches. They are most often found during the first two weeks of June, 
but we have records from Kalamazoo county, by R. B. Westnedge, from 
May 29 (1891) to June 21 (1888), and R. H. Wolcott records one nest 
(presumably at Grand Rapids) as early as May 12. No doubt a second 
brood is reared occasionally, since young just able to fly are frequently 
seen late in July or early in August, and occasional males, still in their 
scarlet plumage, are found singing until the very last of August. 
As soon as the young are able to care for themselves the male moults his 
red plumage and assumes very nearly the dress of the female and in this 
plumage he moves southward, moulting again during the late winter and 
early spring, and returning to us in the familiar red and black plumage. 
At all times the bird appears to prefer oak woods in the neighborhood of 
swamps, but during migration it may be found in woodlands of any 
character. Probably the nest is most often placed in oak trees, but one 
correspondent states that he has always found the nest in pines, another 
has found it in a hemlock and Dr. Wolcott found it in tamaracks. 
The Scarlet Tanager lingers with us well into September, O. B. Warren 
recording one at Palmer, Marquette county, September 11, 1893, and 
Mr. Swales’ latest record at Detroit being October 2, 1893. Probably 
as a rule most of them have left the state by the 20th of September. 
The song at once suggests that of the Robin, but usually has a certain 
hoarseness and a nasal character which at once serves to distinguish it. 
There is much individual variation among the singers and occasionally 
one is heard which far surpasses the rest. Bicknell states that “contrary 
*Very possibly this record is based on the Cardinal. 
