The Birds of the Garden. 205 



well again. The Cat-birds are greatly attached to their young, 

 and will fight desperately for them if danger appioaches. Many 

 parts of the Cat-bird's song is wonderfully sweet and melodious. 

 For he imitates the Oriole, Bluebird, Bobolink and other birds, 

 besides singing his own sweet, powerful lay. But alas! alas ! for 

 the imperfect life of bird and flower ; the thorn must appear with 

 the rose, and discord with melody. The Cat-bird often gives in 

 place of his sunny song only the cry of the cat and the filing of 

 the saw, when the love making is over. 



The Brown Thrush or Mavis is a bird occasionally seen in our gar- 

 dens, but he takes most naturally to fields and woods. He is re- 

 lated to the Robin. His color is light brown, with a tinge of 

 cinnamon. He is a shy bird, and if you get sight of him, it is as 

 he dodges from bush to fence in such a stealthy manner that you 

 fancy he has been in mischief. When he sings, he flies upon the 

 highest limb of the tree, and there pours forth a strong, rich, in- 

 tricate warble, that not uncommonly lasts an hour. His notes 



" They melt upon the ear, they float away, 

 They rise, they sink, they hasten thy delay, 

 And hold the listener with bewitching song, 

 Like sounds from heaven." 



For he ranks, as singer, first among our northern birds. 

 The Bobolink is the great song bird of the east, where it is 

 heard constantly in orchard and meadow. In this vicinity it is 

 not a common bird, although his song is not infrequently heard. 

 With us he seems to take naturally to low lands. He comes in a 

 coat of black and white, that changes, before the season is over, 

 to dark gray. His song is very musical and merry. He is the 

 great solo singer among the birds. Washington Irving gives a 

 beautiful description of the Bobolink, and addresses him in the 

 words of Logan : 



" Sweet bird ! thy bower is ever green, 



Thy sky is ever clear ; 

 Thou hast no sorrow in tby note, 

 No winter in thy year. 



" Oh ! could I fly, I'd fly with thee ; 



We'd make, on joyful wing, 

 Our annual visit round the globe — 



Companions of the spring." 



