BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 201 



spring, they are frequently to be observed gleaning insects, or devour- 

 ing the apple-tree blossoms. These birds, although found in almost 

 every locality, are most numerous in briery thickets, open woodland 

 and in bushy places along fences and roadways. The nest, composed 

 of leaves, dried grasses, etc., is built in low bushes. The eggs are four 

 or five, bluish- white and unspotted; seldom are they pure white, and 

 rarely do we find them spotted or thinly dotted with reddish brown, 

 but whatever may be their coloration, they measure a little less than 

 of an inch long, and a trifle over a wide. The female with her 

 plain brown dress, not unlike some members of the human race when 

 attired in " mother-hubbards " and calico gowns, always shy and re- 

 tiring seems even anxious to elude observation. The male, however, 

 in his attractive and showy garb of iridescent blues, seemingly is con- 

 scious of his beauty, and appears eager to make his presence known. 

 He perches on the tops of high bushes, on the dead twigs and limbs 

 of tall trees, on the telegraph wires and fences, to sing his peculiarly 

 vigorous and rapid song. The sharp chip of the female never, how- 

 ever, fails to quickly call to her side, this vain, noisy yet most devoted 

 partner. Indigobirds feed chiefly on different kinds of small seeds ; 

 during the breeding season many insects are eaten. They subsist also 

 to a small extent on apple and some few other blossoms; various 

 kinds of small fruits and berries are not unpalatable to them. 



FAMILY TANAGRIDJE. TANAGERS. 



GENUS PIRANGA. VIEILLOT. 

 608. Piranga Brythromelas YIEILL. 



Scarlet Tanager. 



(Plate 37). 



Length about 7|; extent, about 12; wing, about 3^; tail, about 3 inches. Bill blu- 

 ish or brownish yellow; legs and feet lead color; iris, brown. 



ttab. Eastern United States, west to the plains, and north to Southern Canada. 

 In winter the West Indies, Central America and northern South America. 



The Scarlet Tanager, one of the most brilliant of our forest birds. 

 is about the size of the common Bluebird. The wings and tail of the 

 adult male are glossy black ; body and other parts bright scarlet. The 

 female is a greenish yellow color, with wing and tail feathers dark 

 brown. This description applies to full plumaged adults as we find them 

 in the spring and early summer. Both sexes are, however, subject to 

 great variations in plumage, and particularly is this variation notice- 

 able in the male birds. It is stated that in the autumn the male 



