The Western Tanager 



merest suggestion of red upon the 

 forehead is enough to distinguish a 

 growing son from his mother; and 

 nesting males two or three seasons 

 old may be poorly furnished as to the 

 head. On the other hand, old males 

 sometimes become so drunk with red- 

 ness that it begins to ooze out upon 

 the feathers of breast, rump, and 

 crissum. 



Seen in the hand, this vivid cos- 

 tume would seem to assure a very 

 conspicuous bird, but afield it is not 

 so. Seen against the changing green 

 of willows, pines, or fir trees, these 

 brilliant colors are lost to any but the 

 most attentive eye. A resplendent 

 male does not hesitate to stand 

 quietly upon the end of a branch and 

 survey you until his curiosity is fully 

 satisfied. This quiet attitude of gen- 

 teel curiosity seems to be character- 

 istic of all Tanagers. Apart from its 



psychological bearings, sedateness would seem to play an effective part in 

 modifying the attractions of bright plumage. 



In the spring migrations the male birds precede the dull-colored 

 females by several days, and the movement is likely to be deflected, or 

 retarded, by weather conditions, so that at a time a whole countryside 

 may be aroused to the splendor of these avian visitors. Such a Tanager 

 wave we well remember at Santa Barbara in late April and early May of 

 the year 1912. The birds "fairly swarmed," so says the note-book, along 

 the fences or through the mustard patches which lined the lesser indenta- 

 tions of the sea-cliffs. Without exaggeration I think I may say that one 

 could have seen a hundred adult males in the course of an afternoon's 

 drive. 



It is to be feared that these congested movements affect the fruit 

 grower to some extent. The beauties are hungry, and berries are very 

 much appreciated, thank you. A lady in Montecito, noting the predilec- 

 tion of the birds for fruit, had a wheel-like arrangement placed on top of a 

 stake driven in her lawn. Upon the end of each spoke half an orange, 

 freshly cut, was made secure. The Tanager saw and appreciated ; and the 

 lady had the satisfaction of seeing as many as twelve Tanagers feeding on 



Taken in Santa Barbara County 

 Photo by the Author 



"A QUIET ATTITUDE OF GENTEEL 

 CURIOSITY" 



433 



