The Black Tanager. 
63 
barrel (9 inches in diameter) with open end, and this time 
constructed an open cup -shaped nest, at tlie back of one u.sed 
by the Ouzels earlier in the j'ear. This barrel was fixed un- 
der the eave of the shelter, nine feet above the ground; I only 
looked in once and saw a clutch of four eggs, which I think 
had already been incubated for several days. As near as I 
can tell incubation, and the period the fledgelings (2) remained 
in the nest coincided with that of the previous broods; but, on 
this occasion I had a better opportunity of observing the 
family party during the period in which young birds are 
commonly termed branchers. About a week after the young 
were hatched my supply of mealworms gave out, and J could 
not obtain any, though trying all sources. But I procured 
some gentles and by scattering these amid the growing grass 
(extravagant method) and over the bushes the Tanagers, by 
quick foraging, managed to secure a fair supply. I noticed, 
after the first few days that lx)th parents carried to the nest 
sponge cake from the milk-sop and also fairly large pieces of 
banana and apple. I further saw them after the young had 
emerged, putting similar supplies into the open mouths of the 
young. The two young did not perch together when they 
left the nest, but occupied different sides of the aviary, and, 
it appeai-ed to me that the male looked solely after one and the 
hen the other. These two birds were most interesting to 
watch, ac though the birds were shy and secretive when one 
was in the aviary, once outside the netting the birds ignored 
you and went about their foraging and passing their captures 
on to their young without any attempt at concealment what- 
ever. One moment a fly would be taken, again it would be 
a piece of sponge cake and again fruit and in the later stages 
seed also, for adult Tachyphonae consume a considerable 
amount of seed. For fully two months aiter they tlew these 
two young were assiduously fed by their parents. 
This was a most interesting period, as the demeanour 
and young made a most interesting and pleasing picture of 
bird-life, and, I fear, I neglected my " B.N." duties a little to 
watch them — they are equally pleasing now in January's cold, 
wet, and snowy days, for they appear quite oblivious of the 
most inclement weather and form, a .most striking and charming 
picture of active bird-life at the present time (January 24th). 
