The Scarlet Tanager 
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climate and are still especially sensitive, will 
kill off great numbers in the north woods and 
in Canada. They really should postpone their 
journey a little while until the weather becomes 
settled and there are fewer fogs on the coast. 
The male tanager, in his wedding garment, is 
sometimes mistaken for a cardinal by people 
who only half see any object they look at. 
Bird study sharpens the sight wonderfully, and 
teaches boys and girls the importance of accur- 
rate observation. The cardinal, a larger bird, 
is almost as large as a robin ; he is a rich, deep 
red all over, and not a scarlet shade. Moreover 
he wears a pointed crest by which you may al- 
ways know him, while the tanager, whose head 
is smooth, may be certainly named by his black 
wings and tail. After the nesting season, the 
tanager begins to moult and then he is a queer 
looking object indeed in his motley coat. Only 
little patches and streaks of scarlet remain here 
and there among the olive green feathers that 
gradually replace the red ones until, in winter, 
he becomes completely transformed into an 
olive bird with black wings, looking like his 
immature sons. How tiresome to have to 
change his feathers again toward spring before 
he can hope to woo and win a mate ! 
The exacting little lady bird, who demands 
such fine feathers, is herself quietly clad in light 
olive green with a more yellowish tinge on her 
