Catbird 



The catbird is generous and helpful to others of his 

 kind in trouble of any sort, feeding and caring for deserted 

 or orphaned young ones of any species, and always ready 

 to aid distracted parents in the defense of their homes 

 and little ones. 



Olive Thorne Miller. Chapman's Handbook of Birds.^^ 



Ambitious of song, practising and rehearsing in private, 

 she yet seems the least sincere and genuine of the sylvan 

 minstrels, as if she had taken up music only to be in fashion, 

 or not to be outdone by the robins and thrushes. In 

 other words she seems to sing from some outward motive, 

 and not from inward joyousness. She is a good versifier 

 but not a great poet. Vigorous, rapid, copious, not with- 

 out fine touches, but destitute of any high, serene melody, 



her performance always implies a spectator. 



There is a certain air and polish about her strain, however, 

 .... that commands respect. 



Burroughs. Wake Robin.^ 



The Pussy-Cat Bird 



To-day when the sun shone just after the shower, 

 A song bubbled up from the lilac-tree bower. 

 That changed of a sudden to quavers so queer. 

 For a moment I thought something wrong in my ear, 

 Then I called little Dempster and asked if he heard. 

 "Oh, yes," he replied; ''it's the pussy-cat bird." 



42 



