SCAKLET TANAGER 147 



The Purple Martin is a summer resident throughout New 

 York and New England, but it is extremely local, and ap- 

 parently growing more rare. Martin boxes set up on tall 

 poles are an interesting feature of many villages and farm- 

 steads, but through large sections of the country, most of 

 Berkshire County, Mass., for instance, Martins are entirely 

 absent. They seem to have a decided preference for the 

 valleys of slow streams, where they may hawk over exten- 

 sive meadows and sheets of water. They return to their 

 boxes toward the end of April, and leave New England 

 before September. 



Their loud, deep voices and the rich blue-black of the 

 males make them attractive neighbors. They spend much 

 time sitting on the doorsteps, so to speak, of their houses, 

 — the ledge before the entrance to the box. In July the 

 young birds are seen thrusting their heads out for food. 

 The ordinary notes are a deep musical pew, pew, -pew, and 

 a twitter like that of the Barn Swallow, but richer. They 

 have also a harsh squeak. The colonies nearest' Boston are 

 in West Eoxbury, Hyde Park, Dedham, Lexington, and 

 Concord ; near New York city there are colonies at Plain- 

 field, N. J. 



TANAGERS: FAMILY TANAGRID^ 



ScAKLET Takagbk. Piranga erythromelas 

 7.25 



Ad. $. — Entire body bright scarlet; wings and tail black. 

 Ad. ?. — Upper parts greenish; wings and tail brown; under 

 parts yellowish. Ad. $ in autumn. — Like the 9 , but wings and tail 

 black. Im. — Like the female, but $ has black wing coverts. 



Nest, of fine twigs, loosely built, on a, limb, seven to twenty 

 feet up. Eggs, bluish, with reddish-brown markings. 



The Scarlet Tanager is a summer resident throughout 

 New England and New York, common in southern New 



