i88 BIRDS 



not be trusted in the company of smaller or weaker species. 

 The usual seeds form its diet, but as it is inclined to obesity, 

 it must not be fed too liberally. 



The Red-headed Cardinal (Paroaria larvata) is a na- 

 tive of Brazil. It is gray above, the feathers edged with 

 black. The head and throat are red and the underparts 

 white. The head is not crested, as in the preceding species. 

 This bird is somewhat less quarrelsome than the Red- 

 crested and a slightly better singer, otherwise there is not 

 much choice between them. 



Tanagers. 



The Tanagers (Tanagrid;e) are exclusively South Am- 

 erican. Among their numbers they include many beautiful 

 species which make excellent cage birds. Unfortunately, 

 however, none of them is at all common in the market 

 here, and it is only on very rare occasions that any species 

 is obtainable. But since exceptions do sometimes occur, 

 a few words concerning them may not be amiss. The 

 Tanagers which occasionally reach us fall naturally into 

 three groups : the Euphonias (Tanagra) , the Callistes {Tan- 

 gara) and the larger species (Thraupis and allies). The 

 Euphonias are mostly little bluish-black fellows, with yel- 

 low crown and underparts. The Callistes are about the size 

 of the English Sparrow and remarkable for the great variety 

 of their brilliant plumage. The larger Tanagers include the 

 Silver-beaks {Ramphoccelus) and the Blue (Thraupis 

 cana) and the Palm Tanager (T. palmarum), the latter 

 two being offered less infrequently than most of the others. 

 The Tanagers are chiefly fruit-eaters, and their diet must 

 include a generous quantity of ripe fruits, such as bananas, 

 oranges, soft pears, grapes, etc. It is best to sprinkle the 

 fruit with soft food, as otherwise many will never touch the 



