72 IN THE CAT-BIRD'S NOOK. 



face, he gives utterance to a harsh, grating 

 ?ound that one finds it hard to believe can come 

 out of his mouth, like " Crack-rack-rack." In 

 fact, I do not know a bird possessing a greater 

 variety of notes. 



When a cat-bird stands up three feet from 

 you, not in the least flustered or disturbed, 

 calmly looking you full in the face with both 

 his bright black eyes, not turning his head from 

 side to side in the way common to birds, you 

 recognize in him something like intelligence 

 and reason, and you cannot resist the convic- 

 tion that he has his opinions, and could express 

 them if only you could understand his lan- 

 guage. ^ 



