SCARLET TANAGER. 95 



This silent bird, however, has been declared by an eminent English natu- 

 ralist, to be almost equal to their own Nightingale ! The Count also 

 quotes the following passage from Charlevoix to prove the same point, 

 which if his translator had done him justice, evidently proves the 

 reverse: "It is scarcely more than a hundred leagues," says this 

 traveller, " south of Canada, that the Cardinal begins to be seen. Their 

 song is sweet, their plumage beautiful, and their head wears a crest." 

 But the Scarlet Tanager is found even in Canada, as well as an hun- 

 dred leagues to the south, while the Cardinal Grosbeak is not found in 

 any great numbers north of Maryland. The latter therefore, it is highly 

 probable, was the bird meant by Charlevoix, and not the Scarlet Tana- 

 ger. 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 Havana a bark from Florida, loaded with Cardi- 

 nal 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 altogether indifferent of concealment. 



Passing through an orchard one morning I caught one of these young 

 birds that had but lately loft the nest. I carried it with me about half 

 a mile, to show it to my friend Mr. William Bartram; and having pro- 

 cured 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 charity 

 with them, as with too many of the huinan 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, endeavoring 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 ofiBces 



* Gmelli Careri. 



