THE BLUE-HEADED TANAGER. 53 



the garden or orchard. He is not afraid of any- 

 thing, but hops, and perches, and chirps, and is 

 quite at his ease. He is not called the Finch. He 

 has another name in this part of the world. He 

 is the Tanager. There is a brilliant little bird, 

 called the Scarlet Tanager, that is found in the 

 forests of North America, and that has a glowing 

 band of red on his wings. He is a very sociable 

 bird, and ventures near the abode of man. He 

 will come to the gardens to seek for fruit and 

 insects, and will even place his nest on a tree by 

 the roadside. But as soon as the young Tanagers 

 are old enough, the parent birds will lead them 

 away southward to escape the winter. 



The old birds choose the night as the safest 

 time for flitting, and glide through the woods 

 followed by their little ones. Many families may 

 be seen travelling in this way, on their route to a 

 warmer spot. 



The love of the parent birds for their young is 

 very touching. Nothing will induce them to 

 forsake their offspring. I can relate a little story 

 to prove the fact. 



