BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
251 
This species arrives in Pennsylvania sometimes, though rarely, as 
early as the last week in April; usually it comes about May 9. Tana- 
gers, except when they pay occasional visits to cherry or mulberry trees, 
on the fruits of which they feed to a limited extent, are seldom found 
away from favorite retreats in the forests. The forests and groves, par¬ 
ticularly oak groves, in which streams of water are found, are the favorite 
resorts of this species. The nest, a loosely built structure, composed of 
twigs, roots or stems of various weeds, is usually placed on the horizon¬ 
tal limb of a small tree, preferably beech ( Fagus ), about ten or twenty 
feet from the ground. Eggs, three to five, mostly four, pale greenisln 
blue, spotted with different shades of brown, measure about .95 by .65. 
While the nests are nearly always built in the depths of the woods, I 
have observed they frequently are seen overhanging a cart-road or un¬ 
frequented path, when such a passage-way exists in the woods. I have 
often discovered the nests of this species, and, notwithstanding the fact 
that neither the nests or contents were disturbed, have noticed that the 
birds would always follow me to the edge of the woods, and occasionally 
some distance beyond, uttering their peculiar chirp churr. When tan- 
agers thus absent themselves from the nests, it not unfrequently hap¬ 
pens that the thieving and omnivorous Blue Jay robs them of their con¬ 
tents. Mr. B. M. Everhart has known instances where the jays, after 
devouring the eggs or young tanagers, have torn up the nests. 
Tanagers, during the summer residence with us, feed principally on 
various forms of insects, and to a very small extent on fruits, such as 
cherries, strawberries, huckleberries, etc. 
The stomach contents of twenty-nine of these birds are given in the 
following table: 
No. 
DATE. 
Locality. 
Food-Materials. 
1 
May 6. 1880, . 
East Bradford, Pa., . . 
Beetles.* 
2 
Mav 17, 1880, . 
East Bradford, Pa., . . 
Beetles.* 
3 
May 18, 1880, . 
East Bradford, Pa., . . 
Beetles (on maple tree). 
4 
May 19. 1880, . 
East Bradford, Pa., . . 
Beetles.* 
5 
May 19. 1880, . 
East Bradford, Pa., . . 
Beetles.* 
6 
Sept. 15, 1880. . 
Westchester, Pa.. . . 
Grasshoppers. 
7 
May 20, 1882, . 
East Bradford, Pa., . . 
Beetles and spiders.* 
8 
May 20. 1882, . 
East Bradford, Pa., . . 
Beetles and spiders.* 
9 
May 20, 1882, . 
East Bradford, Pa., . . 
Beetles and flies.* 
10 
May 20. 1882, . 
East Bradford, Pa.. . . 
Beetles and spiders.* 
11 
May 20. 1882, . 
East Bradford, Pa., . . 
Beetles and flies.* 
12 
May 12, 1883, . 
East Bradford, Pa., . . 
Few flies and small worms (taken on cherry tree). 
13 
May 12. 1883, . 
East Bradford, Pa., . . 
Beetles (taken on maple tree). 
14 
May 14, 1883, . 
Chester county, Pa., 
Beetles, flies and few small green worms (on oak tree. ) 
15 
May 14, 1883, . 
Chester county. Pa., 
Beetles chiefly, with traces of other insects.* 
16 
Mav 14. 1883, . 
Chester county, Pa., . 
Beetles.* 
17 
May 14, 1883, . 
Chester county, Pa., 
Beetles.* 
18 
May 14, 1883, . 
Chester county. Pa., . 
Beetles.* 
19 
May 25, 1883, . 
West Goshen. Pa. 
Black beetles and other insects (taken on walnut tree). 
20 
May 25, 1883. . 
Willistown, Pa., .... 
Flies and beetles.* 
21 
May 25, 1883, . 
Willistown, Pa. 
Flies and beetles.* 
22 
May 7, 1883, . 
Chester county, Pa., 
Beetles and flies. 
23 
May 7, 1883, . 
Chester county, Pa. 
Beetles and flies. 
24 
June 4, 1884. . 
Chester county, Pa., 
Beetles and other insects. 
25 
June 4, 1884, . 
Chester county, Pa., 
Unrecognizable insect mass. 
26 
June 14, 1884, . 
Chester county. Pa., . 
Cherries. 
27 
June 14, 1884, . 
Chester county, Pa., . 
Cherries. 
28 
June 17, 1884, . 
Chester county, Pa., . 
Beetles, flies and butterfly. 
29 
June 17, 1884, . 
Chester county, Pa., . 
Beetles and other insects. 
* All taken on hickory trees. 
