licitous 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
friend. He procured a ladder, and mounting to the spot where the bird
was suspended, opened the cage, took out his prisoner, and restored
him to liberty and to his parent, who, with notes of great exultation,
accompanied his flight to the woods."

[Illustration: From col. F. M. Woodruff. SCARLET TANAGER.]

THE SCARLET TANAGER.

What could be more beautiful to see than this bird among the green
leaves of a tree? It almost seems as though he would kindle the dry
limb upon which he perches. This is his holiday dress. He wears it
during the nesting season. After the young are reared and the summer
months gone, he changes his coat. We then find him dressed in a dull
yellowish green--the color of his mate the whole year.

Do you remember another bird family in which the father bird changes
his dress each spring and autumn?

The Scarlet Tanager is a solitary bird. He likes the deep woods, and
seeks the topmost branches. He likes, too, the thick evergreens. Here
he sings through the summer days. We often pass him by for he is
hidden by the green leaves above us.

He is sometimes called our "Bird of Paradise."

Tanagers feed upon winged insects, caterpillars, seeds, and berries.
To get these they do not need to be on the ground. For this reason it
is seldom we see them there.

Both birds work in building the nest, and both share in caring for the
little ones. The nest is not a very pretty one--not pretty enough for
so beautiful a bird, I think. It is woven so loosely that if you were
standing under it, you could see light through it.

Notice his strong, short beak. Now turn to the picture of the
Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks in April BIRDS. Do you see how much alike they
are? They are near relatives.

I hope that you may all have a chance to see a Scarlet Tanager dressed
in his richest scarlet and most jetty black.

THE RUFFED GROUSE.

The Ruffed Grouse, which is called Partridge in New England and
Pheasant in the Middle and Southern States, is the true Grouse, while
Bob White is the real Partridge. It is unfortunate that they continue
to be confounded. The fine picture of his grouseship, however, which
we here present should go far to make clear the difference between
them.

The range o