230 
TANAGRA RUBRA. 
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 shew 
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 ; 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 he 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 
bis 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 
