SCARLET TANAGER. igj 



Passing through, an orchard one morning, I caught one of 

 these young birds, that had but lately left the nest. I carried 

 it with me about half a mile, to show it to my friend Mr 

 William Bartram ; and having procured 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 ; 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 re- 

 fused 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 con- 

 tinued 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 day, 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 exultation, accompanied his flight 

 to the woods. The happiness of my good friend was scarcely 

 less complete, and showed itself in his benevolent counten- 

 ance ; 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 unspeakably rapturous — must the 

 delight of those individuals have been, who have rescued 



