212 SCARLET TAN ACER. 



let Tanager. Buffon also quotes an extract of a letter from Cuba, 

 which, if the circumstance it relates be true, is a singular proof 

 of the estimation in which the Spaniards hold the Cardinal 

 Grosbeak. " On Wednesday arrived at the port of Havanna a 

 " bark from Florida, loaded with Cardinal birds, skins and 

 " fruit The Spaniards bought the Cardinal birds at so high a 

 " price as ten dollars a piece; and notwithstanding the public 

 " distress spent on them the sum of 18,000 dollars!"* 



With a few facts more I shall conclude the history of the 

 Scarlet Tanager. When you approach the nest, the male keeps 

 cautiously at a distance, as if fearful of being seen; while the 

 female hovers around in the greatest agitation and distress. 

 When the young leave the nest the male parent takes a most 

 active part in feeding and attending them, and is then alto- 

 gether indifferent of concealment. 



Passing through an orchard one morning I caught one of 

 these young birds that had but lately left the nest. I carried it 

 with me about half a mile, to show it to my friend Mr. William 

 Bartram; and having procured a cage, hung it up on one of 

 the large pine trees in the Botanic garden, within a few feet of 

 the nest of an Orchard Oriole, which also contained young; 

 hoping that the charity, or tenderness of the Orioles, would 

 induce them to supply the cravings of the stranger. But Chari- 

 ty 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 back 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, endea- 

 vouring 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, notwithstanding the insolence of the Orioles, con- 

 * Gmelli Careri. 



