The Scarlet Tanager 2 ig 



ing a young tanager and carrying it a half mile to the home of 

 his friend Mr. William Bartram, and putting it in a cage. He 

 says, "as it refused to be fed by me, I was about to return it 

 back to the place where I had found it, when, toward the after- 

 noon, a scarlet tanager, no doubt its own parent, was seen flut- 

 tering round the cage, endeavoring to get in. Finding this im- 

 practicable, he flew off, and soon returned with food in his 

 bill, and continued to feed it until sunset. * * * In the 

 morning, almost as soon as day broke, he was again seen 

 most actively engaged in the same affectionate manner * * 

 On the third or fourth day, he appeared extremely solicitious 

 for the liberation of his charge, using every expression of dis- 

 tressful anxiety, and every call and invitation that Nature had 

 put in his power, for him to come out. This 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 out the prisoner, and returned him to liberty and 

 to his parent, who, with notes of great exultation, accompanied 

 his flight to the woods." 



In the olive-green color of the female scarlet tanager, we 

 have a fine instance of protective coloration. Her nest is al- 

 ways built amidst the foliage of trees with like colors, and this 

 fact helps to protect it and its contents from the ravages of 

 its enemies. If hers was the color of the male she would be 

 constantly attacked by these, and quickly her kind would be- 

 come extinct. The male seems to appreciate the fact and ex- 

 cept when carrying food to her, he remains away from the im- 

 mediate locality of the nest. 



"Athwart the shadows of the woods, 



Flashes a meteor's light, 

 With wings like scarlet poppy-leaves, 



A tanager gleams bright." 



He finds a tall tree in the neighborhood of the nest, if he 

 can, and from its topmost branch sings his sweet song of com- 

 fort for the ears of his mate. 



That song of comfort is a most bewitching one, and 

 his brilliant coat most readily enables one to find the 

 singer. Indeed if one desires to find the birds readily, 



