228 SCARLET TANAGER, OR BLACK-WINGED RED-BIRD. 



notwithstanding the difference in the temperature of our Southern and 

 Northern States, the young are no sooner able to travel than they are at once 

 led off, so that families may be seen travelling southward for many weeks in 

 succession, and by the end of September all have left the United States. 

 The eggs are from three to five, smooth, of a dull greenish-blue colour, 

 speckled with reddish-brown and light purple, and measure a little more 

 than seven-eighths of an inch in length, by five-eighths in breadth. The 

 young are fed with insects and fruits of many sorts. At this period the 

 old birds feed also on insects and larvae, but toward the latter period of their 

 stay they all subsist chiefly on the smaller berries and grapes. 



The parental affection of this bird has been so beautifully and truly 

 described by Wilson, that, in presenting the following statement regarding 

 it, I must contribute to the gratification of your kindly feelings as much as 

 of my own. "Passing through an orchard one morning, I caught one of the 

 young birds that had but lately left the nest. I carried it with me about 

 half a mile, to shew it to my friend, Mr. William Bartram; and, having 

 procured a cage, hung it upon one of the large pine trees in the Botanic 

 Garden, within a few feet of the nest of an Orchard Oriole, which also con- 

 tained young; hopeful 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 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, endeavouring 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, continued his benevolent offices 

 the whole clay, roosting at night as before. On the third or fourth day, he 

 appeared extremely solicitous for the liberation of his charge, using every 

 expression of distressful 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 restored him to liberty and to his parent, who, with notes of great exul- 

 tation, accompanied his flight to the w^oods. The happiness of my good 

 friend was scarely less complete, and shewed itself in his benevolent counte- 

 nance; and I could not refrain saying to myself, — If such sweet sensations 

 can be derived from a single circumstance of this kind, how exquisite — how 



