180 
THE SCARLET TANAGER. 
brandling twigs, but loosely arranged together, 
and, if it were not for the interlocking of the 
twigs, it would soon fall apart. It is slightly 
hollowed, and is lined with finer twigs and 
the leaves of pines and hemlocks. During 
the preparation of the nest, the Scarlet Tanager 
is as industrious as his mate, and, besides 
helping her, cheers her toils with many a 
merry song. 
As soon as the fabric is completed, the 
female lays four or five eggs, which are of a 
delicate greenish-blue color, and covered with 
spots and blotches of purple and red, thickest 
at their greater end. The eggs laid, incuba- 
tion commences ; and here the Tanager does 
not shirk his share of the labor, for he takes 
his place on the eggs, and permits his mate to 
have a chance for recreation and exercise 
whenever she wishes. When she is sitting, he 
is perched near her, cheering ' her with his 
song, or hunting some little titbit of food that 
he knows will be especially grateful to her. 
Altogether he is a model husband,” and a 
good example to his neighbors, who, we are 
sorry to say, do not always improve by him. 
