224 
THE SUMMER RED-BIRD. 
in diameter near the roots, either entwined round the trunk of a large tree, 
and by this means reaching the top branches and extending over them and 
those of another tree, or, as if by magic, swinging in the air, from roots 
attached at once to some of the uppermost branches. In favourable seasons 
they are laden with grapes, which hang in small clusters from every branch, 
from which, when they are fully ripe, a good shake will make them fall in 
astonishing quantity. The skin is thick and very tough, the pulp glutinous, 
but so peculiarly flavoured as to be very agreeable to the taste. These grapes 
are eaten by most people, although an idea prevails, in Lower Louisiana 
particularly, that the eating of them gives rise to bilious fevers. For my 
part, I can well say, that the more I have eaten of them the better I have 
found myself ; and for this reason seldom lost an opportunity of refreshing 
my palate with some of them in my rambles. I am equally confident, that 
their juice would make an excellent -wine. Another absurd opinion prevails 
in Louisiana, which is, that the common blackberries, however ripe and 
pleasant, produce biles ; although the country people make use of a strong 
decoction of the root as a cure for dysentery. 
Male, 74, 11. 
From Texas to Massachusetts. In the interior to Canada. Abundant. 
Migratory. 
Summer Red-bird, Tanagra cestiva, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. i. p. 95. 
Tanagra ^estiva, Bonap. Syn., p. 105. 
Summer Red-bird, Tanagra cestiva, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 469. 
Summer Red-bird, Tanagra cestiva , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 232 ; vol. v. p. 518. 
Adult Male. 
Bill rather short, robust, tapering, compressed, acute ; upper mandible a 
little convex in its dorsal outline, convex on the sides, the acute edge 
slightly notched near the tip, which is a little declinate ; lower mandible 
also a little convex in its dorsal outline, with the edges inflected. Nostrils 
basal, lateral, round. Head large. Body rather long. Feet shortish ; tarsus 
compressed, anteriorly scutellate, about the length of the middle toe ; outer 
toe united at the base to the middle one ; claws arched, compressed, acute. 
Plumage soft, blended, glossy. Wings of ordinary length, the second 
quill longest. Tail slightly emarginate, of twelve acute feathers. 
Bill yellowish-brown above, bluish below. Iris hazel. Feet and claw r s 
light greyish-blue. The whole plumage is vermilion, brighter on the 
lower parts, excepting the tips and inner webs of the quills, which are 
tinged with brown. 
Length 74 inches, extent of wings 11 ; bill along the ridge T 7 2) along the 
gap 1 : tarsus f . 
