tree. Taken with the greenish color of the female, it was a remarkable 
instance of color illusion ; every time I wanted to see the nest, knowing 
the branch it was on, I had to run my eye along the branch till it met 
the nest before I could see it; the shallow nest and the greenish female 
were remarkably inconspicuous. Only the female took part in the 
duties of incubation. She would remain on the nest even when one 
passed closely, but if anyone stopped to look at her, she would glide off 
the nest through the tree in the opposite direction, so quietly as to almost 
make one doubtful of her presence. The birds became quite accustomed 
to seeing one of my family sitting at the window close by. I did not go 
very near the nest for fear of disturbing the birds. 
When the young were hatched another peculiarity was noticed, these 
birds differing much from most birds in the manner of feeding their 
young. I watched several evenings for an hour or more at a distance 
from the tree, but could clearly see the nest with ‘my field glass. Still 
I did not once see the female feed her young. Most birds feed their 
young often just before sunset, and I think the female Tanager must 
have known she was watched, for one evening I watched as long as I 
could see the nest and no mother appeared. I 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 ail 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 Sfecies 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. OQlOStQb 
277. Scarlet Tanager. [By Dr. II. A. Atkins.] Ibid., VI, p. 13. — 
; J Oft Dates, of arrival of Pyranga rubra at Locke, Ingham Co., Mich., for 25 
_years. 
606. Habits of the Scarlet Tanager. By E. E. F[ish]. Ibid., No. 5, 
PP . 1 18-1 19. otiU, Buf. Nat. FteW Cfab, 1883 
Q, Q* 
Q,W& O* 
3x7. Remarkable Flight of Birds. By M. Chamberlain. Ibid., VI, 
p. 33. — Sea-de:).. Uju! age rs . Indigo Birds, and Green Herons, at Westport, 
Nova Scotia, “ driven in by a gale.” 
317. Remarkable Flight of Birds. By M. Chamberlain. Ibid., VI, 
p 53.— Starlet Taiiagers, Indigo Birds, and Green Herons, at Westport, 
Nova Scotia, “driven in by a gale.” 
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29 
