Birds of Lewiston-Auburn 39 



FAMILY TANAGERS 



57. (608) SCARLET TANAGER 



The most of the Tanagers we see are migrants, but 

 occasionally one nests in this vicinity. I have seen it at 

 Mt. Apatite and near the Auburn-Turner boundary. It 

 may be expected about May 20. I shall long remember 

 one May morning when a party of us were looking for 

 birds near Riverside Cemetery. Suddenly one, with the 

 keenest eyes of our observers, exclaimed, "The Scarlet 

 Tanager !" 



In a short time everyone within the sound of our voices 

 had seen the brilliant bird that awakens activity among 

 bird lovers. Before night probably nearly every one knew 

 that the tanager was here and all interested were out in 

 full force the next morning to find it. Perhaps they were 

 successful in their search and possibly it was not seen 

 again, for some years its stay is brief. Each spring the 

 same excitement is repeated when some one observes the 

 only bird we have with the tropical plumage. During 

 spring migrations it has been known to be on David's 

 Mountain several days in succession. The song, a burst 

 of rich, sweet melody, is the quality of the robin's, but 

 more brief. 



FAMILY FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



58. (598) INDIGO BUNTING 



A somewhat rare summer resident. Arrives the last 

 of May. This charming bird, a study in blue, sings its 

 vivacious song hour after hour even through the intense 

 heat of a summer day, perched upon a wire or top of a 

 low tree. 



I have heard it as late as the middle of August, the 

 bird having kept in song since its arrival. 



