

SCARLET TANAGEU.— J'i/ra"!/<i i"l>r^'- 



to supply the cravings of the stranger. But charity with them, as with too many of the 

 human race, began and ended at home. 



The poor orphan was altogether neglected, notwithstanding its plaintive cries, and as 

 it refused to be fed by me, I was about to return it to the place where I found it, when 

 towards the afternoon a Scarlet Tanager, no doubt its own parent, was seen fluttering round 

 the cage, endeavouring to get in. Finding this impracticable, he flew off and soon returned 

 with food in his bill, and continued to feed it till after sunset, taking up his lodgings on 

 the higher branches of the same tree. In the morning, almost as soon as day broke, he 

 was again seen most actively engaged in the same affectionate manner, and, notwith- 

 standing the insolence of the orioles, continued his benevolent offices the whole day, 

 roosting at night as before. 



On the third or fourth day he appeared extremely solicitous for the liberation of his 

 charge, using eveiy expression of distressful anxiety, and every call and invitation that 

 nature had put in his power for him to come out. Tliis was too much for the feelings of 

 my venerable friend ; he procured a ladder, and mounting to the spot where the bird was 

 suspended, opened the cage, took oi\t the prisoner, and restored him to liberty and to his 

 parent, who, with notes of great exultation, accompanied his flight to the woods." 



The colour of the adult male bird is brilliant scarlet, with the exception of the wings 

 and tail, which are deep black. The tail is forked, and very slightly tipped with white. 

 This plumage is, however, only donned during the breeding season, for in the autumnal 

 moult a number of greenish yellow feathers make their appearance, giving the bird a 

 uniformly dappled or mottled aspect. The female is a comparatively soberly clad bird, 

 being green above and yellow beneath, with wings and tail bro'miish black, edged with 

 green. The total length of the Scarlet Tanager is between six and seven inches. 



All the Tanagers inhabit America, and are mostly confined to the southern portions of 

 that land. They may readily be distinguished from the other Fringillidic by the notched 

 upper mandible, and by the triangular base and arched ridge of the beak. Most of tlieni 

 are possessed of musical powers ; one species, the Organist Tanaoek {Euphonia musica), 

 deriving its popular and scientitic title from its rich full tones. Tin- colours of the 

 Tanagers are generally brilliant, scarlet, black, and orange being the ordinary hues with 

 which their plumage is bedecked. 



