44 The Birds of Albany County 



growth, keeping close to the ground. But at times the male 

 will mount to the topmost branch of a tall tree and sing for an 

 hour or two without stopping. The song is conceded to be 

 the most brilliant of our eastern birds. 



CATBIRD. — Caleoscoples carolinensis. 8.94 



Common Only in Certain Parts of the County 



Field marks. — Entire body slate color, varying to nearly black 

 on the head and tail; under tail-coverts chestnut. 



Although of beautiful conformation and one of the sweetest 

 singers in the world, the fine qualities of this bird of the thickets 

 are not very generally known to other than bird students. 

 Further, with ignorant persons, he is often spoken of in con- 

 temptuous terms. This is probably because of his name and 

 his peculiar common note, which vaguely suggests Felis in 

 distress. But it is only the superficial observer who has not 

 discovered his fine traits. The disagreeable note is uttered 

 only when his haunts are invaded, or his beloved nest approached 

 by some lumbering human. Study him sympathetically and 

 you will discover that he has few rivals as a vocalist and is one 

 of the most harmless of our feathered folk. He delights in 

 moist, warm mornings late in May or early in June, when, with 

 tail depressed and feathers all in a pretty fluff, he will mount 

 on a limb and sing in a way to charm the hearer. Catbird is a 

 common summer resident of Albany County. The nest is built 

 of sticks and dark, fine rootlets in thick-growing shrubbery, 

 from three to ten feet from the ground. Four dark green eggs 

 are laid. 



