AVES-CAT-BIRD. 501 



THE CAT-BIRD.* 



This is a very common and numerous species in the United Stales ; and 

 one as well known to all classes of people, as his favorite bicars, or black- 

 berry bushes. In spring or autumn, on approaching thickets of brambles, 

 the first salutation you receive is from the cat-bird ; and a stranger, unac- 

 quainted with his note, would instantly conclude that some vagrant orphan 

 kitten had got bewildered among the briers, and wanted assistance, so exactly 

 does the call of the bird resemble the voice of that animal. He is unsuspi- 

 cious, and extremely familiar ; for whether in the woods or in the garden, 

 where he frequently builds his nest, he seldom allows you to pass without 

 paying his respects to you in the usual way. The nest is composed of dry 

 leaves, weeds, small twigs, and fine dry grass, lined with fibrous roots. The 

 birds show no great solicitude for concealment, though few are more 

 interested for the safety of their nest and young. The eggs are four or five, 

 of a bluish green color. 



The cat-bird is one of our earliest songsters, beginning generally before 

 break of day, and hovering from bush to bush with great sprightliness, when 

 there is scarcely light enough to distinguish him. His notes are more 

 remarkable for singularity than melody. They consist of short imitations 

 of other birds, and other sounds ; but his pipe being rather deficient in clear- 

 ness and strength of tone, his imitations fail where these are requisite ; yet 

 he is not discouraged, but seems to study certain passages with great perse- 

 verance, uttering them at first low, and as he succeeds, higher, and more 

 free ; no ways embarrassed by the presence of a spectator, even within a few 

 yards of him. On attentively listening to him for some time, you can per- 

 ceive that he introduces into his performance all the odd sounds, and quaint 

 passages he has been able to collect. Upon the whole, he merits a place 

 among the most agreeable of our general performers. 



Few people in the country respect the cat-bird. On the contrary, it is 

 generally the object of dislike ; and the boys of the United States entertain 



1 Tardus lividus, Wilson. 



