2,22 THE CATr.IRI). « 



Nesting. — Scst, of twigs, wi-cd-slalks. vi'Kctalile IiIjits, ami trash, carefully 

 liiK'd with fine r<Kjtlcts, placed at iiuliflferent heights in bushes or thickets. Eggs. 

 4-5, deep emerald-green, glossy. .\v. size, .95 x .6(j (24. 1 x 17.5 ». Season, first 

 two weeks in June: one briKxl. 



General Range. — Eastern I'nited Slates and i'ritish Provinces, west regu- 

 larly to ami iiu-Imling the Rocky Mountains, irregularly to the Pacific Coast from 

 iJritisli C<)liinii)ia ti> central California. P.recds froiu the (lulf States northward 

 to the Saskatciiewan. Winters in the southern states, Cuba, and middle .\merica 

 to Panama. iUTUuula. resident, .\ccidental in Europe. 



Range in Washington. — Summer resident ; not uncommon but locally dis- 

 tributed in eastern and especially northeastern Washington; penetrates deepest 

 nuiuntain valleys on eastern slope of Cascades, and is regularly established in 

 certain West-side valleys connected by low passes. Casual at Seattle, and else- 

 wiiere at sea-level. 



Authorities. — CmU-oscoptcs coroliiicusis. Belding, Land Minis of the Pacific 

 District ( 1890), p. 226 (Walla Walla by j. W. W illiani-. 1885 1. I)'. Ss'. Ss'. J. 



Specimens. — U. of W. Prov. P. C. 



'rn()Si\ will" Imld either a good or a had opinion of the Catbird are one- 

 sided ill liieir judgiiieiit. Two. and not less than two. ojiiiiioiis arc jmssible 

 of one and tiie same bird, lie is botii iiii]i and angel, a "feathered Mephis- 

 topiielcs" and "a heavenly singer." But this is far from saying that the bird 

 lives a doulile life in the sense ordinarily understood, for in the same minute 

 lie is grave, gay, pensive ami clownish. Nature made him both a wag and a 

 poet, and it is no wonder if the rognishness and high philosophy lM.>come 

 inextricably entangled. One moment he steps forth before you as sleek as 

 Heau Rrummel. graceful, jiolished. cqnal-eyed : then he cocks his head to one 

 side and sr|iiints at you like a thief: next he hangs his head, <lrrMips wings 

 and tail, and looks like a d<ig lieing lectured for killing sheep: — Presto, 

 change! the bird pulls himself up to an extravagant height and with exag- 

 gerated grulTness, cmaks out. "Who arc you?" Then without waiting for an 

 answer to bis impudent iniestion. the rascal sneaks off thru the bushes, 

 bugging every feather dose to bis body, delivering a running fire of cat-calls. 

 s(|uawks, and expressions of contemi)t. There is no accounting for him: he 

 is an irrejiressible — ami a genius. 



The Catbird is not common in Washington, save in the northeastern 

 portion of the State, where it is well established. Miss Jennie \'. Getty finds 

 them regularly at North Rend, and there is a Seattle record: so th.it there is 

 reason to believe that the Catbird is one of those few sj^cies which are ex- 

 tending their range by encroacbmcnl from ncigbhoring territory. There can 

 be 110 rpiestion that civilization is conducive to the bird's welfare, primarily 

 b\- increasing the quantity of its cover on the Kast-side. and, jxissihly. by re- 

 ducing it on the West. Catbirds, when at home, are found in thickets and in 

 loose shnibberv. River-banks are lineil with them, and chajiarral-covered hill- 



