bird neighbors-第49章
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Female Brownish yellow above； shading to gray below。 Tail shorter than the male's。 Crest； wings； and tail reddish。 Breast sometimes tinged with red。 Range Eastern United States。 A Southern bird； becoming more and more common during the summer in States north of Virginia； especially in Ohio； south of which it is resident throughout the year。 Migrations Resident rather than migrating birds； remaining throughout the winter in localities where they have found their way。 Travel in flocks。
Among the numerous names by which this beautiful bird is known； it has become immortalized under the title of Mr。 James Lane Allen's exquisite book； 〃The Kentucky Cardinal。〃 Here； while we are given a most charmingly sympathetic； delicate account of the bird 〃who has only to be seen or heard； and Death adjusts an arrow；〃 it is the cardinal's pathetic fate that impresses one most。 Seen through less poetical eyes； however； the bird appears to be a haughty autocrat； a sort of 〃F。 F。 V。〃 among the feathered tribes； as； indeed； his title； 〃Virginia redbird；〃 has been unkindly said to imply。 Bearing himself with a refined and courtly dignity； not stooping to soil his feet by walking on the ground like the more democratic robin； or even condescending below the level of the laurel bushes； the cardinal is literally a shining example of self…conscious superiority a bird to call forth respect and admiration rather than affection。 But a group of cardinals in a cedar tree in a snowy winter landscape makes us forgetful of everything but their supreme beauty。
As might be expected in one of the finch family； the cardinal is a songster the fact which； in connection with his lovely plumage； accounts for the number of these birds shipped in cages to Europe； where they are known as Virginia nightingales。 Commencing with a strong； rich whistle； like the high notes of a fife； 〃Cheo…cheo…cheo…cheo；〃 repeated over and over as if to make perfect the start of a song he is about to sing； suddenly he stops； and you learn that there is to be no glorious performance after all； only a prelude to nothing。 The song； such as it is； begins； with both male and female； in March； and lasts； with a brief intermission； until September 〃the most melodious sigh；〃 as Mr。 Allen calls it。 Early in May the cardinals build a bulky and loosely made nest； usually in the holly； laurel； or other evergreen shrubs that they always love to frequent； especially if these are near fields of corn or other grain。 And often two broods in a year come forth from the pale…gray； brown…marked eggs； beating what is literally for them the 〃fatal gift of beauty。〃
SUMMER TANAGER （Piranga rubra） Tanager family
Called also： REDBIRD； SMOOTH…HEADED REDBIRD
Length 7。5 inches。 About one…fourth smaller than the robin。 Male Uniform red。 Wings and tail like the body。 Female Upper parts yellowish olive…green； underneath inclining to orange…yellow。 Range Tropical portions of two Americas and eastern United States。 Most common in Southern States。 Rare north of Pennsylvania。 Winters in the tropics。 Mirations In Southern States： April。 October。 Irregular migrant north of the Carolinas。
Thirty years ago； it is recorded that so far north as New Jersey the summer redbird was quite as common as any of the thrushes。 In the South still there is scarcely an orchard that does not contain this tropical…looking beauty the redbird par excellence； the sweetest singer of the family。 Is there a more beautiful sight in all nature than a grove of orange trees laden with fruit； starred with their delicious blossoms； and with flocks of redbirds disporting themselves among the dark； glossy leaves？ Pine and oak woods are also favorite resorts； especially at the north； where the bird nowadays forsakes the orchards to hide his beauty； if he can； unharmed by the rifle that only rarely is offered so shining a mark。 He shows the scarlet tanager's preference for tree…tops； where his musical voice； calling 〃Chicky…tucky…tuk；〃 alone betrays his presence in the woods。 The Southern farmers declare that he is an infallible weather prophet； his 〃wet； WET； WET；〃 being the certain indication of rain another absurd saw； for the call…note is by no means confined to the rainy season。
The yellowish…olive mate； whose quiet colors betray no nest secrets； collects twigs and grasses for the cradle to be saddled on the end of some horizontal branch； though in this work the male sometimes cautiously takes an insignificant part。 After her three or four eggs are laid she sits upon them for nearly two weeks； being only rarely and stealthily visited by her mate with some choice grub； blossom； or berry in his beak。 But how cheerfully his fife…like whistle rings out during the temporary exile！ Then his song is at its best。 Later in the summer he has an aggravating way of joining in the chorus of other birds' songs； by which the pleasant individuality of his own voice is lost。
A nest of these tanagers； observed not far from New York City； was commenced the last week of May on the extreme edge of a hickory limb in an open wood； four eggs were laid on the fourth of June； and twelve days later the tiny fledglings； that all look like their mother in the early stages of their existence； burst from the greenish…white； speckled shells。 In less than a month the young birds were able to fly quite well and collect their food。
SCARLET TANAGER （Piranga erythromelas） Tanager family
Called also： BLACK…WINGED REDBIRD； FIREBIRD； CANADA TANAGER； POCKET…BIRD
Length 7 to 7。5 inches。 About one…fourth smaller than the robin。 Male In spring plumage： Brilliant scarlet； with black wings And tail。 Under wing coverts grayish white。 In autumn： Similar To female。 Female Olive…green above； wings and tail dark； lightly Margined with olive。 Underneath greenish yellow。 Range North America to northern Canada boundaries； and southwardin winter to South America。 Migrations May。 October。 Summer resident
The gorgeous coloring of the scarlet tanager has been its snare and destruction。 The densest evergreens could not altogether hide this blazing target for the sportsman's gun； too often fired at the instigation of city milliners。 〃Fine feathers make fine birds〃 and cruel； silly women； the adage might be adapted for latter…day use。 This rarely beautiful tanager； thanks to them； is now only an infrequent flash of beauty in our country roads。
Instinct leads it to be chary of its charms； and whereas it used to be one of the commonest of bird neighbors； it is now shy and solitary。 An ideal resort for it is a grove of oak or swamp maple near a stream or pond where it can bathe。 Evergreen trees； too； are favorites； possibly because the bird knows how exquisitely its bright scarlet coat is set off by their dark background。
High in the tree…tops he perches； all unsuspected by the visitor passing through the woods below； until a burst of rich； sweet melody directs the opera…glasses suddenly upward。 There we detect him carolling loud and cheerfully； like a robin。 He is an apparition of beauty a veritable bird of paradise； as； indeed； he is sometimes called。 Because of their similar coloring； the tanager and cardinal are sometimes confounded； but an instant's comparison of the two birds shows nothing in common except red feathers； and even those of quite different shades。 The inconspicuous olive…green and yellow of the female tanager's plumage is another striking instance of Nature's unequal distribution of gifts； but if our bright…colored birds have become shockingly few under existing conditions； would any at all remain were the females prominent； like the males； as they brood upon the nest？ Both tanagers construct a rather disorderly…looking nest of fibres and sticks； through which daylight can be seen where it rests securely upon the horizontal branch of some oak or pine tree； but as soon as three or four bluish…green eggs have been laid in the cradle； off goes the father； wearing his tell…tale coat； to a distant tree。 There he sings his sweetest carol to the patient； brooding mate； returning to her side only long enough to feed her with the insects and berries that form their food。
Happily for the young birds' fate； they are
