Peculiar Traits of Some Scarlet Tanagers. — Scarlet Tanagers ( Piranga 
erythromelas) are not common in this vicinity (Ridgewood, N. J.) ; for 
many years I saw only two or three during spring migrations. Within 
the last few years a few pairs have bred in this locality, generally on the 
outskirts of woods ; so I was surprised to see a pair nesting in a Norway 
spruce, on a branch only about ten feet from the corner of my house, 
and about the same distance from the ground. In all my ornithological 
experience I never knew a pair of birds to live and nest so near my house 
with such secretiveness. 
One of my family first saw the birds from an upper window that looked 
down on the nest. The nest building appeared to be all done by the 
female. The male bird was seen usually in the morning, apparently 
inspecting the work or noting its progress, but was seldom seen during 
the rest of the day. Both birds when approaching their nest alighted 
near the top of this high tree and descended through the branches to 
the nest, which was flat, very evenly built, like a cup of basket work, 
beautifully woven of material resembling the color of the bark of the 
couia see tne nest ana no mother appeared. 1 thought some harm must 
have happened to her, but next morning she was at home. My business 
did not allow me to watch them much during the day; one afternoon 
the bright male Tanager put in an appearance in the upper part of 
the tree, but seeing me he made off without coming near the nest. 
Soon the downy backs of the nestlings showed above the rim of the 
basket house, when the hen seldom brooded them unless it was wet 
weather. These youngsters were perfectly quiet, never clamoring for 
food, like so many other nestlings. Before they were big enough to 
project conspicuously above their flat nest they left it and went higher 
up the tree. This was on the 3d of July. Their color being greenish, it 
was very hard to distinguish them in the upper branches where they were 
secreted and fed by the parents. 
A few days before leaving the nest a violent tempest passed over the 
vicinity; trees were thrown down and scattered over the ground in all 
directions; many nests of different birds were tossed or knocked out of 
the trees by wind or hailstones. I thought it impossible for my Tanagers 
to escape harm, but they were all right after the storm, which showed 
how the faithful mother must have covered them. The young birds and 
mother remained about for several weeks, but the male was absent, if his 
scarlet was still worn. 
I took down the deserted nest. It was composed of long fine brown 
rootlets, fine thin stems of running blackberry, with a little grass and 
string evenly woven ; it was thinly lined with a fine yellowish brown, 
thread-like fibre, as fine as horsehair. The whole structure can be seen 
through yet it is strong. . 
Had I expressed an opinion on the habits of the Scarlet Tanager from 
that year’s observation I should have said the male bird was very shy, 
60. Increase of Some Species in Certain Localities. By Fred J. Davis. 
Ibid., V, p. 5. July, 1879.— Scarlet Tanager, Crow Blackbird, Great-crested 
Flycatcher, Green Heron, and Pine Grosbeak referred to ; locality (appar- 
ently) Central New York. OOlOfifillfc 
277. Scarlet Tanager. [By Dr. H. A. Atkins.] Ibid., VI, p. 13. — 
9 ,aad Q» Dates, of arrival , of Pyranga rubra at Locke, Ingham Co., Mich., for 25 
years. 
By E. E. F[ish]. Ibid., No. 5 
317. Remarkable Flight of Birds. By M. Chamberlain. Ibid., VI, 
Q,fM& Qf> p. S3-— ScaHe-t aiaiiagers, Indigo Birds, and Green Herons, at Westport, 
Nova Scotia , “driven in by a g ale.” 
317. Remarkable Flight of Birds. By M. Chamberlain. Ibid., VI, 
Q» p . 53.— Scarlet Talragers, Indigo Birds, and Green Herons, at Westport, 
Nova Scotia, “driven in by a gale.” 
