rarely seen. In places where the Scarlet Tanag^r feels safe, it is sometimes found • 

 in large shade trees, and in northern Illinois I found two pairs in close proximity to a 

 house. One pair was breeding in the large orchard and the other in a beautiful piece 

 of adjoining woodland. The males were often seen together, flying around in the 

 orchard or in the woods, or searching for food or nesting material on the ground. They 

 did not hop about, but sat quietly in one place, flying to another after a short time. 

 It w^as a beautiful sight to observe two of these exquisite birds on the ground under- 

 neath the green trees. They were not shy, allowing a very near approach. Evidently 

 they knew that they were protected, for the owner of the grounds allowed nobody to 

 shoot, to scare the birds, or to rob their nests. Whenever they heard a strange Sound, 

 or the cry of a Hawk, they were almost struck with terror and hurried to the next 

 tree or the densest part of the woods. In the central and northern part of Wisconsin 

 they usually inhabit mixed woods, consisting of beeches, maples, white-pines, hemlocks, 

 and other trees. Although of a gorgeous scarlet, they are not out of place among the 

 sombre evergreens. On this point I find the following passage in Mr. John Burroughs' 

 "Wake Robin" : 



"That bit of light scarlet on yonder dead hemlock, glowing like a live coal against 

 the dark background, seeming almost too brilliant for the severe northern climate, is 

 the Scarlet Tanager. I octasionally meet him in deep hemlocks, and know no stronger 

 contrast iii nature. I almost fear he will kindle the dry limb on which he alights. He 

 is quite a solitary bird, and in this section* seems to prefer the high, remote woods, 

 even going quite to the mountain's top. Indeed, the event of my last visit to the 

 mountain was meeting one of these brilliant creatures near the summit in full song. 

 The breeze carried these notes far and wide. He seemed to enjoy the elevation, and I 

 imagined his song had more scope and freedom than usual. When he had flown far 

 down the mountain-sides, the breeze still brought me his finest notes. In plumage he is 

 the most brilliant bird we have. The Bluebird is not entirely blue ; nor will the Indigo- 

 bird bear a close inspection, nor the Goldfinch, nor the Summer Redbird. But the 

 Tanager loses nothing by a near view ; the deep scarlet of his body and the black of 

 his wings and tail are quite perfect. This is his holiday suit; in the fall he becomes a 

 dull yellowish-green, — the color of the female the whole season." 



The common call-note of both male and female sounds like chip-a-rarce, 

 chip-a-raree. A soft pensive call-note is frequently heard during nesting time and after 

 the young have left the nest, sounding like weed-weed-weed. The song of this bird is 

 very loud, clear, and flute-like, resembling "somewhat that of the Robin in its modu- 

 lation, but is shriller in tone, more hurried, and enunciated with a peculiar wavering 

 style." These words of Mr. Ridgway I can fully corroborate. I have always found 

 much resemblance in the songs of the birds named. Like the Robin the Scarlet Tanager 

 selects a high perch, usually the top of a tall tree, when singing. At certain times a 

 few notes reminded me of the song of the Baltimore Oriole. The bird sings only when 

 the weather is warm and bright, and for a few weeks only. This may account for the 

 fact that so many ornithologists have so little or nothing to say of the Tanager's 

 song, which is really very fine and impressive if heard in the bright and merry days of June. 



* Eastern New York. N, 



