340 
THE SCARLET TANA OEM. 
until the breeding season is over. The nest is made of rather rough materials, such as flax- 
stalks and dry grass, and is so loosely put together that the light is perceptible through the 
interstices of the walls. The number of eggs is generally three, and their color is dullish blue, ; 
variegated with brown and purplish spots. While engaged in the business of incubation, both 
birds are extremely terrified at the presence of any strange object, and if a human being 
approaches the nest, the male flies to a little distance and keeps cautiously aloof, peering 
through the boughs at the foe, and constantly fearful of being seen. The female also leaves 
the nest, but continues to fly restlessly about her home, hovering over the eggs or young in 
great distress. When, however, the young are hatched, the male parent takes his full share 
in attending upon them, and cares nothing for being seen. 
The attachment of the male bird to his young seems to be very strong, as is shown by the 
following account, extracted from Wilson 
“Passing through an orchard, and seeing one of these young birds that had but lately left 
the nest, I carried it with me about half a mile to show it to my friend, Mr. William Bartram, 
and having procured a cage, hung it up on one of the large pine-trees in the Botanic Garden, 
within a few feet of the nest of an orchard oriole, which also contained young, hopeful that 
the charity and kindness of the orioles would induce them to supply the cravings of the 
stranger. But charity with them, as with too many of the human race, began and ended 
at home. 
“ The poor orphan was altogether neglected, notwithstanding its plaintive cries, and as it 
refused to be fed by me, I was about to return it to the place where I found it, when towards 
• the afternoon a Scarlet Tanager, no doubt its own parent, was seen fluttering round the cage, 
endeavoring to get in. Finding this impracticable, he flew off and soon returned with food in 
his bill, and continued to feed it till after sunset, taking up his lodgings on the higher branches 
of the same tree. In the morning, almost as soon as day broke, he was again seen most actively 
engaged in the same affectionate manner, and, notwithstanding the insolence of the orioles, 
continued his benevolent offices the whole day, roosting at night as before. 
“On the third or fourth day he appeared extremely solicitous for the liberation of his 
charge, using every expression of distressful anxiety, and every call and invitation that nature 
had put in his power for him to come out. This was too much for the feelings of my venerable 
friend ; he procured a ladder, and mounting to the spot where the bird was suspended, opened 
the cage, took out the prisoner, and restored him to liberty and to his parent, who, with notes 
of great exultation, accompanied his flight to the woods.” 
The tail is forked, and very slightly tipped with white. This plumage is, however, only 
donned daring the breeding season, for in the autumnal moult a number of greenish yellow 
feathers make their appearance, giving the bird a uniformly dappled or mottled aspect. The 
female is a comparatively soberly clad bird, being green above and yellow beneath, with wings 
and tail brownish black, edged with green. The total length of the Scarlet Tanager is between 
six and seven inches. 
They may readily be distinguished from the other Fringillidee by the notched upper 
mandible, and by the triangular base and arched ridge of the beak. Most of them are pos- 
sessed of musical powers ; one species, the Organist Tanager (Euphonia musica), deriving 
its popular and scientific title from its rich full tones. The colors of the Tanagers are gen- 
erally brilliant, scarlet, black, and orange being the ordinary hues with which their plumage 
is bedecked. 
The Scarlet Tanager is one of five species inhabiting the United States. The family of 
Tanagers is especially American. The larger number of these species are found in South 
America, where they abound. Many of them excel, in beauty and richness of plumage, any 
known bird. Wilson says of our visitor, the Scarlet Tanager : “He is dressed in the richest 
scarlet, set off with the most jetty black. Among all the birds that inhabit our woods, there 
is none that strikes the eye of a stranger, or even a native, with such brilliancy as this. Seen 
among the green leaves, with the light falling strongly on his plumage, he is a superb creat- 
ure.” The Louisiana Tanager is native to the Southwestern United States. A Western 
species is known ; and one, called the Hepatic Tanager, inhabiting Mexico. 
