Wilson gives us the following interesting anecdote of one of these
birds: "Passing through an orchard one morning, I caught a young
tanager that had apparently just left the nest. I carried it with me to
the Botanic Garden, put it in a cage, and hung it on a large pine-tree
near the nest of two orioles, hoping that their tenderness might induce
them to feed the young bird. But the poor orphan was neglected, till at
last a tanager, probably its own parent, was seen fluttering round the
cage, and endeavoring to get in. Finding this impracticable, it flew
off, and soon returned with food in its bill, feeding the young one
till sunset: it then took up its lodgings on the higher branches of the
same tree. In the morning, as soon as day broke, he was again seen most
actively engaged; and so he continued for three or four days. He then
appeared extremely solicitous for the liberation of his charge, using
every expression of anxiety, and every call and invitation that nature
had put in his power, for him to come out. Unable to resist this
powerful pleader, I opened the cage, took out the prisoner, and
restored it to its parent, who, with notes of great exultation,
accompanied its flight to the woods."