The Scarlet Tanager 
83 
ally heard ; which appear to proceed from a considerable distance, though 
the bird be immediately above you, a faculty bestowed on him by the 
beneficent author of nature, no doubt for his protection, to compensate 
in a degree for the danger to which his glowing color would often expose 
him. If he has little of melody in his notes to charm us, he has nothing 
in them to disgust.” Audubon’s comment on this passage is that he con- 
sidered the notes lively rather than pensive; and that 
when uttering them “the bird often inflates his throat, Musical 
stands erect, and vibrates his body as if in perfect 
ecstasy.” The Scarlet Tanager is, in truth, one of our best singers, 
his music resembling that of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, but lacking 
its fulness and finish. On this point Schuyler Matthews discourses as 
follows in his “Field Book of Wild Birds and their Music’' : 
“The song of the Scarlet Tanager, like that of the Rose-breasted 
Grosbeak, has been frequently compared to the Robin. . . . To be sure, 
there is a certain wild-wood likeness between all bird-songs, . . . but 
it must be remembered that such similarities are wholly superficial, and 
that an ordinarily discriminating ear would have no difficulty in recog- 
nizing the fact. 
“The most pronounced feature of the Scarlet Tanager’s voice is its 
quality of tone ; every note is strongly double-toned or burred. Mr. 
Bradford Torrey has been quick to recognize this fact, for he remarks, 
in ‘Footing it in Franconia,’ that the Scarlet Tanager is still singing 
hoarsely ! That exactly expresses a tone-quality not only nearly absent 
in the Robin’s voice, but in a matter of degree decidedly unique in the 
Tanager’s voice. A very few of the Robin’s notes are burred (sometimes 
not one) ; many of those of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak are slightly 
burred (sometimes nearly all) ; but the abiding characteristic of all the 
Tanager’s notes is a double tone which can only be imitated by strongly 
humming and whistling at the same time. There is a lazy, drowsy, dozy 
buzz to this beautiful bird’s voice which one can only 
The Song 
Interpreted 
liken to a giant musical bumble-bee, or an old-time 
hurdy-gurdy; the unobtrusive music speaks of sum- 
mer’s peace and rest, soft zephyrs blowing over sighing pine-trees, and 
tinkling shallows of woodlands brooks. From a point of view confined 
to pure sentiment there is not the slightest similarity between this serene, 
crooning melody and the rollicking carol of the Robin.” 
In addition to exhibiting fascinating qualities of color and song the 
Scarlet Tanager is of great economic importance to us, as it is a diligent 
hunter of noxious insects, especially those found among the tree-tops. 
Edward H. Forbush speaks of the Scarlet Tanager as the appointed 
guardian of the oaks, and says that we are much indebted to it for the 
preservation of these noble and valuable trees. It is not particularly 
active, but, like the vireos, it is remarkably observant, continually finding 
and persistently destroying those concealed insects which so well escape 
all but the sharpest eyes. Mr. Forbush continues : 
