162 VERTEBRATA. 
inches long, the plumage beautifully varied with black and orange ; a native of the West Indies. 
It is celebrated for its charming song. 
Genus PYRAjSTGA : Pyranga. — This includes the Scarlet Tanager, or Black-winged Sum- 
mer Redbird, or Fire Bird, P. rzibrci., six and a half inches long, the plumage a brilliant scarlet, 
except the wings and tail, which are black. It arrives among us from its tropical home in April, 
and extends its migrations to Canada and Nova Scotia. Its food consists of insects, wasps, hor- 
nets, wild bees, and beetles ; also berries and grapes. This gaudy sylph, as if conscious of its 
attractions, seeks to hide them in the thickest woods, where it rears its brood. The nest is on 
the branch of an oak or other tree, and is of slight texture ; the eggs are three to four. During 
incubation the male delivers a highly musical, meandering ditty, often continuing it for hours. 
The young are attended with the most assiduous care by the parents. These birds depart for the 
south in August. 
The Summer Redbird, P. cestiva, is seven and a half inches long, the whole plumage vermil- 
ion : it is a most beautiful and brilliant bird, resembling the preceding in its habits : found from 
Texas to Canada. 
The Louisiana Tanager, P. Ludoviciana, is seven inches long, of a greenish-yellow color, head 
crimson-red, back, wings, and tail black ; found in Louisiana. 
THE COMMON SPARROW OF EUROPE. 
THE SPARROWS. 
The Sparrows, Linnets, Finches^ and Buntings greatly resemble each other, and are often loosely 
grouped together under the general name of Finches ; they are also frequently confounded one 
with another in popular language. We shall proceed to notice them separately. 
Genus PASSER : Passer. — This includes the Common Sparrow of Europe — Moineau of the 
Erench ; Passero of the Italians ; Hems- Sperling of the Germans ; Hoitse- Sparrow of the Eng- 
lish — P. domesticus : it is six inches long, brown above, beneath pale wood-brown. It is perma- 
nent throughout Europe, and is a universal attendant upon man, building its nests as well around 
the palace as the cottage, in the city as the hamlet. The eggs are five or six, and several broods 
are reared in a season. Fecundity is indeed one of the characteristics of this bird. The food con- 
sists of seeds, insects, caterpillars, young vegetables, and soft fruits. It is a universal favorite, not 
for any merits of song, but for its lively, confiding manners, and the cheerful ideas its presence 
imparts. This bird is also known throughout all Northern Asia. 
Genus FRINGILLA : Fringilla. — This includes the Wood-Sparrow or Tree-Sparrow of Eu- 
rope, F. montana of Temminck, Passer montanus of Yarrell, which is somewhat smaller than the 
preceding ; its color above brown spotted with black, and gray beneath. It lives more aloof from 
the habitations of man, and in winter may be seen mingling with other sparrows, finches, and 
buntings. It is found throughout the northern parts of the eastern continent. 
