SCARLET TANAGE R. 
95 
This silentbird, 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. Buffo n 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 left 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 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, 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 offices 
* Gmelli Careri. 
