CATBIRD. 
704. Dumetella carolinensis. 9 inches. 
General color dark gray with a black cap and chest- 
nut under tail coverts. 
This is one of the most common birds throughout 
the United States, being found equally abundantly in 
gardens, swamps and scrubby pastures. They are very 
persistent songsters and have a large repertoire of 
notes, as well as being able to imitate those of many 
other birds. They delight i in spending an hour or more 
at a time, perched in a bush or tree top, singing, and 
apparently making their song up as they go along, for 
it is an indescribable medley interspersed with various 
mews and cat calls, 
Song.—A medley like that of the Mockingbird; some- 
times pleasing, sometimes not. 
Nest.—In hedges or thickets; made of twigs, root- 
lets and grass, lined with fine black roots; the four 
eggs are plain greenish blue (.95 x .70). 
Range.—N. A., breeding from the Gulf to New 
Brunswick and Hudson Bay; rare west of the Rockies; 
winters from the Gulf States southward. 
