Species VIII. TUliDUS LIVWUS. 



C A T - B I R D. 



[Plate XIV. Fig. 3.] 



Muscicapa Carolinensis, Linn. Syst. 328. — Le (jobe-mouche brun de Virgmie, Briss. 

 II., 365. — Cat-bird, Catbsb.i., 66. — Latham, ii., .353. — Le moucherolle de Virginie, 

 BoFF. IV., 562. — Lucar lividus, apice nigra, the Cat-bird, or Chicken-bird, 

 Bartram, p. 290. 



We have here before us a very common and very numerous species, 

 in this pai-t of the United States ; and one as well known to all classes 

 of people, as his favorite briars, or blackberry bushes. In spring or 

 summer, on approaching thickets of brambles, the first salutation you 

 receive is from the Cat-bird ; and a stranger, unacquainted with its 

 note, would instantly conclude that some vagrant orphan kitten had got 

 bewildered among the briars, and wanted assistance ; so exactly does 

 the call of the bird resemble the voice of that animal. Unsuspicious, 

 and extremely familiar, he seems less apprehensive of man than almost 

 any other of our summer visitants ; for whether in the woods, or in the 

 garden, where he frequently builds his nest, he seldom allows you to 

 pass without approaching to pay his respects, in his usual way. This 

 humble familiarity and deference, from a stranger too, who comes to 

 rear his young, and spend the summer with us, ought to entitle him to 

 a full share of our hospitality. Sorry I am, however, to say, that this, 

 in too many instances, is cruelly the reverse. Of this I will speak 

 more jmrticularly in the sequel. 



About the twenty-eighth of February the Cat-bird first arrives in the 

 lower parts of Georgia from the south, consequently winters not far 

 distant, probably in Florida. On the second week in April he usually 

 reaches this part of Pennsylvania ; and about the beginning of May has 

 already succeeded in building his nest. The place chosen for this 

 purpose is generally a thicket of briars or brambles, a thorn bush, 

 thick vine or the fork of a small sapling ; no great solicitude is shown 

 for concealment ; though few birds appear more interested for the 

 safety of their nest and young. The materials are dry leaves and 

 weeds, small twigs and fine dry grass, the inside is lined with the fine 

 black fibrous roots of some plant. The female lays four, sometimes 

 five eggs, of a uniform greenish blue color, without any spots. They 

 gen(!rally raise two, and sometimes three broods in a season. 



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