138 The Ottawa Naturalist. [September 



mieht be flattered if he knew there is a bird with such an admira- 

 tion for his genius as the catbirdevidentlyhas ; who indulges him- 

 self with the hope, apparently, that some day success and fame 

 will reward his efforts also. I have known that bird to arouse 

 himself in the middle of the night in order to render his much 

 practised imitations of other bird's notes, just, it would appear, 

 because it was the other bird's custom so to do — with, 1 fancy, 

 much the same idea that Napoleon the Third had in believing 

 that he was following the lead of the same destiny when he 

 said and did the same things in ordinary everyday life as his 

 great uncle. 



Another familiar figure is that of the robin who for some 

 years past has occupied for the sea.son that " desirable residence " 

 known as the big spruce in the fence corner. The American 

 substitute for the Robin Redbreast of nursery rhyme fame, has 

 few points in common with his English name sake, and when 

 the New Englanders gave the big thrush the name by which he 

 has since been known, it was not so much on account of his brick 

 dust colored front, as that his preference for the ploughed fields 

 andgardensofthe settlements reminded them of the friendly ways 

 of the aimiable bird they had left over the seas. They had yet 

 to learn, that so far from having any notions of sentiment on the 

 subject he was influenced solely by the superior advantages the 

 newly ploughed fields and gardens afforded for his favorite diet 

 (jf earth worms. Another habitue oi the place, but who is also a 

 resident, is Jim the crow. 



Jim is a bachelor bird, the misfortune ofa wing broken v/hilehe 

 was yet a callow }-outh, preventing him from taking the place in 

 life he might otherwise occupy. But even if Jim were responsible 

 for the well being of a famil\-, he would never I feel sure, show the 

 lack of confidence in his friends, which the robin displays in his 

 every movement. The lattcr's ideas of the dangers to which that 

 nest is exposed are precisely the same as on that first day he 

 deposited the beakful of mud which formed its cornerstone ; 

 and from break of day till dark of night it does nothing but worry 

 over anticipated difliculties, and threatened dangers. I was 

 moved one day, by hearing shrieks of wrath which betokened a 



