New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-13
TIE SCARLET TANAGER.

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE BIRD SUGGESTED by
MRS OLIVE THoRNE MrLrERS LECTURES
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: ! have been much interested In Mrs. olive
ThOrne Mer's lectures as reported in The 1Tlbunt,
but ! notice that she, perhaps following othc: a"-
thorities. makes the mistake Of saving thai the
song Of the scare; tnnager Gre brb IL scarcely dis
tinguishabie from that OF the robin. ! have had
very good opportunities for observing these birds,
ana never have tho least hesaton IN Distinguishing
between the two songs. That % the i1rlser has
much OF the resonant reverbcrliing Quality peculiar
to wood birds. but which is never heard IN the
robins song The tanager's song Is never heard In
the robins song. The tanager's song j. never pro-
longed without intormisson to the same extent aS
the robins. anl he Is usually much better artist.
IN .lgn. a. with most other birls. there l. wide
difference In the musical ability of different ini-
,viGuals
The tanarcr AZ bis best IS one OF the most musical
of our summer binds Ills song has not qul;e the
cheerful vicor Of the robins his voice lacks some"
thing Of the soft mellow quality Of the wJoIinrh
(rosc-brcastcl grOsbelk and he has not the artistic
finish IN time and tone Of the song-spIrr)w. But
his song is gadnoss itself and his voice when ar it,
best. * ful and rich. and he sings of'"ner AMI
longer. on the whole. than any other bird lie be-
gins IN the morning. after tho robin. AMI sings
At frequent intervals till noon while mos; other
birds are silent after their morning concert, ana ne
always sings again iu the evening Most other biriS
also stop singing altogether IN ms ltttlir h't
far from the first Of July. the robin ana song spar
row being perhaps th. most frequent exceptions.
Bu' the tauager usually sings two 60 three weeks
later than the rest and during this period j. itc-
quenflv almost IN. only singer among all ih" birds
Their. "a also occasional articulation In the tind-
gers song though usually r- p"rfOrmanc" j. an al
mos. inartlculAir Marble one that observed pro-
nolnccI the word "NIbrrt" Continental In the
middle Of his song s., distinctly thar / was able to
recognize the bird on his return FOR three success
s.vc seasons by this peculiarly The call or cry OF
the tannger ls the perfect example of arccua-
iIon known among our native birds. II" pronounces
the word chip BIRD almost distinctly ~ II he
We're a human being. ut'crlns the syllhl"s very de-
lboratcl, ana with 4 prolonged rr~ouaucc ~n1'h r.
peculiarly ATTRACTIVE. Sometimes however. b" om.is
the AS syllable and Saws Only chip
have never found M, bird a. all shy when given
proper proiecior and ENCOURAGEMENT lie ire
qucnrly comes down from the tail trees into the
Kitchen harden ~ lakewood. ami ushts Oh me bean
pol~- curraut tu"ues 81 on ih" Rto''I W.
81. trs ako a pair n"-f~I in fu app" re" bii -"
rod. fr,u the hol-c bu" morning / not. ri mat
Instead OF the usual song hey were uiierIk me
"chp-h.rl' cry with PECULIAR 'ini ma u't 'olII
fnr.. hours AMI more careful investigation ]
f,un! that a vcufurrsume kitten na4 climbed INTO
pear tree scarcely moro than 4 'hrd from ne nesi,
AMI b.. TX afftll - descend. r"inaii"i MId.h lh
"a, f,lf,p. urocufel a ladder and rescued ~"
kitten and before re-"nt't"i ~" mouse m" nltp7
fhtrkrI with s'ns f'r DELIVERING ih'in H"H'
~. Vrtsour~ ~ Nhat ti"F ilu0e hA'' I'Rd'''' ~
y, ~ vel softA While % learn the song OF his
I..,-.sftug bril- Dos which his r"fufn ~ m" spring
cd tl. pf,.eurr through the summer are Announcer
as certainly AMI much more iryII"ni'E iha1Stn b'
US ,lnyaI. Waterbury, April 10.