THE BLUE-HEADED TANAGER. 55 



very soon it returned, carrying an insect in its 

 bill, which it offered to the captive. This time 

 the hungry little Tanager did not refuse to be fed, 

 and the parent bird continued to bring insects and 

 other food until night. Then it took up its abode 

 in the tree close by the cage. The Orioles seemed 

 offended at the intrusion, and treated it with the 

 utmost insolence. But the Tanager bore their 

 insults with patience, and seemed resolved that 

 nothing should drive it to forsake its charge. 

 Some time passed, and the young Tanager grew 

 larger and stronger, and quite able to fly. The 

 parent bird did all it could to coax the prisoner 

 out of the cage, and made use of every note and 

 gesture, as it appeared, of entreaty and persuasion. 

 But the bars of the cage presented an obstacle 

 not to be removed, and the poor birds were both 

 of them in despair. 



At length the owner of the garden, who* had 

 watched all this with great interest, felt his heart 

 relent. He placed a ladder against the tree, and 

 climbing up to the cage, opened the door. The 

 scene that followed repaid his kindness and 



