46 



SCARLET TANAGER 



dinal Grosbeak is not found in any great numbers north of Mary- 

 land. The latter therefore, it is highly probable, was the bird 

 meant by Charlevoix, and not the Scarlet Tanager. 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 Havanna 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 notwithstand- 

 " ing the public distress spent on them the sum of 18,000 dol- 

 ^Marsr^ 



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 thro 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 shew 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 cha- 

 rity, 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 or- 

 phan 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 



* Gmelli Careri. 



