The courier., 1897-07-17
The Scarlet Tanager.


green foliage Of the trees, his bright
scarlet feathers trimmed with jet, give
him the appearance Of fire brand dart
ing through the air. Though not
common bird in this part Of the state. We
may, by seeking for scarlet tanagers.
lind them occasionally in the more
secluded parts OF the woods. near
any Of our creeks. where the
trees and vines are mpst dense.
have found more OF them near
Emerald than any other place around
Lincoln. While the Scarlet Tanager -
not one Of our best singers, yet, his not,s
are soft, mellow and pleasing. and rather
subdued, quite different from the clear
piping flint like notes OF the orioles. He
has a shy disposition and one must, in
order to enjoy his society, approach him
cautiously, for at the snapping OF dry
twigs under foot or the brushing OF
branches he is of. and after he has been
once alarmed We may find it difficult to
make his acquaintance.
These beautiful birds are not as good
architects as many OF our other birds.
They build their little homes with small
roots and gfass rather loosely woven to-
gether, and when standing under the
nest and looking up toward it, II Mrs.
Tanager is not at home busiy engaged
with her household duties. you can see
the light shining through between the
loosely woven fibers. The eggs, three to
five in number, are of dull, greenish
blue color. The first year and part OF
the second the plumage OF the young
ia like that Of the female. a light olive
color; after the second year the young
males gradually assume the bright scar-
LET colors OF the old male bird. The
color of the male Tanager in full plum.
age is bright scarlet gradually shading
down the breast TO dark brilliant red
the wings and tail are Jet black, max.
ino a strong contrast to the bright red
colors. They have large. strong, thick
beak, which they use to good advantage
in cracking the hard seeds they feed on.
They are also fond of small fruits, Wild
cranes and elder berries. The attach
ment of the parent birds for their young
is very strong, as shown by Wilson's ac-
count OF bis experience with young
bird: "Oue day while passing through
an orchard, and seeing one OF those
birds that had but lately left the nest, L
carried il with me to show to friend
half mile away, and having procured
cage. hung it up in tree near tie
nest of an orchard oriole, which also
contained young. ! was hopeful that
the charity aud kindness OF the orioles
would induce them to supply the crav-
inps OF the stranger. But charity with
hem. as with too many of the human
r,ce bepan and ended at home. The
moor orphan was altogether neglected.
notwithstanding its plaintive cries, and
nc IL refused to be fed by me was about
IN return it to the place where l found
il. when toward evening Scarlet Ian
aper. no doubt it's parent. was seen hut
ts,;np round the cage, endeavoring to
get in. finding this impossible he flew of
and soon returned with food in his DILL
and continued to feed it till sunset, tax
ing up his lodgings on the higher
branches of the same tree. In the morn
iue. almost as soon as day break he was
aoain seen most actively engaged IN the
same affectionate manner, and hotwith-
standing the insolence of the orioles,
continued his benevolent offices the
whole day. roosting at night as before.
On the third day be appeared extremely