24 
CAGE-BIRDS. 
us from the South in April, and extends its migrations to Canada and even 
farther North. The plumage of the male is a bright scarlet, and the wings 
and extreme of the tail black. This gaudy sylph, as it conscious of its at¬ 
tractions, seeks to hide them in the thickest woods, where it rears its brood, 
and during this period the male delivers a highly musical song. The food 
of the tanager consists of worms, beetles, wasps, and other insects. It 
departs for the South early in September. This beautiful bird is a gaudy 
pet, but is difficult to domesticate. 
THE bobolink:. 
“The bobolink” has been called the harlequin of the meadows, and is one 
of the most garrulous of all the warblers that gladden our Northern spring¬ 
time, and from the middle of May to the last week in June the meadows are 
ringing with his merry song. Perched upon the topmost bending branch 
of some little tree standing alone in the held, he takes his station or music- 
stand, and pours out his delicious melody, seemingly for the exclusive delec¬ 
tation of himself, and surrounding nature secondarily, as represented in as¬ 
sembled clover-blossoms, buttercups, and wild daisies. Anon, with a sud¬ 
den start, he butters skyward with increased volume of song, as if struggling 
for further inspiration, until his notes are almost lost in the distance. 
Quickly he sweeps down again upon the tree-top, as if overcome with ecstasy 
at his own music. 
“Of all the birds of our groves and meadows,” says Irving, “the Bobolink 
was the envy of my boyhood, ne crossed my path in the sweetest weather 
and the sweetest season of the year, when all nature called to the fields, 
and the rural feeling throbbed in every bosom, but when I, luckless urchin I 
was doomed to be mured up during the live-long day in that purgatory of 
boyhood, a school-room. It seemed as if the little varlet mocked at me as he 
