Sonic 'J'aiiagcrs J have kept. 
^75 
tliey did not interfere with tlie wee Indian Zosterops, though 
their nest was in a conspicuous position. Can one say more ? 
Note, tliey occupied the aviary for six years — true, I did lose 
two young birds through them, but there was nothing maHcious 
in tlie details which led up to this tragedy. Briefly me incident 
was as follows : A pair of ( irey-wing Ouzels (quite as large 
as the English blackbird, annual nesters too) were incubating a 
clutch of eggs before the Black Tanagers started nesting on 
their own — the mother-instinct was strong in the hen tanager, 
and though the ouzels were nearly double her size she insisted 
in helping the ouzel both to incubate brood and feed their 
offspring. All went well till the young ouzels left the nest, 
then the cock ouzel got so disgusted with the state of affairs 
(the male ouzel is the principal feeder of the young after they 
have left the nest) that he disowned his offspring and left off 
feeding them — the hen tanager nobly took them in hand and 
worked early and late on their behalf, but they were too much 
for her; they missed the succulent earth-worms their father used ' 
to take them, and in a few days they, too, were missing! The 
next season the Black Tanagers started housekeeping" on their 
own account, and the hen tanager never evinced the slightest 
interest in the doings of the ouzels after that — they lived 
happily together (not ever afterwards) for four years, each 
sedately bringing up their own offspring and "minding their 
own business " — quite an example for humans this! 
Blue Tanagers {Taiiagra cpiscopus). These two were 
almost self-coloured birds, but so varied were the hues of their 
almost self-coloured garment that this was not so apparent 
when viewed near at hand, but at a little distance they appeared 
as if clad in delicate pale lavender-blue silk. Unfortunately 
with this species the plumage of the sexes are similar, and it is 
extremely difficult to get hold of a true pair. 
About ten years ago I possessed two of this species, the 
last of which had then been with me over eleven years, out of 
doors the whole period — I found them absolutely hardv and 
never looking sick or sorry, even during our vilest weather — 
and I am inclined to believe I had two males, at any rate that 
was the verdict of the taxidermist over the last as well as it was 
oxer the first of them to go " West." 
