LOUISIANA TANAGER. 
471 
LOUISIANA TANAGER. 
(Tanagra ludoviciana, Wilson, iii. p. 27. pi. 20. fig. 1. Phil. Mu- 
seum, No. 6236.) 
Sp. Charact. — Yellow; anterior part of the head orange- scarlet ; 
back, wings, and tail black ; wings with 2 yellow bands. 
This species was first made known by the exploring 
party of Lewis and Clark. It is a frequent inhabitant of 
the extensive prairies or grassy plains of Upper Missouri, 
and is seen occasionally as low as the cantonment of 
Major Long, or but a little beyond the line of settlements. 
They are continually flitting over these vast downs, oc- 
casionally alighting upon the stems of tall weeds, or the 
bushes which border only the streams, and in which, as 
well as in the grass, they build their nests. From their 
almost terrestrial habits, it is evident they must derive 
their food chiefly from the insects they find near, or on 
the ground, as well as from the seeds of the herbage in 
which they principally dwell ; they also probably feed 
on the grasshoppers with which these plains abound ; 
and are upon the whole a common and numerous species 
west of the Mississippi, remaining in that country near- 
ly until the approach of October. For amusement, they 
are frequently shot with bow and arrows by the Indian 
boys, in defect of more important game. Though I have 
seen many of these birds throughout the season, I have 
no recollection of hearing them utter any modulated or 
musical sounds ; and they appeared to me like Sparrows, 
shy, flitting, and almost silent. 
The length of this bird is about 6J inches. Bill yellowish horn- 
color. Legs greyish-blue. Tail slightly forked, and edged with dull 
whitish. — The female or young bird had the wings and back brown- 
ish. 
