228 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



of the Southern States, where he fills the woods 

 with his sweet music, delighting every body 

 who hears him. 



The nest of the cat bird is quite a curiosity. 

 Did you ever discover one of these nests in the 

 swamp, in the spring of the year? Many of 

 you, I am quite well aware, being shut up 

 among the brick walls of the city, have never 

 visited at all the favorite haunts of this bird. 

 So I must give you some idea of his curious 

 nest by a picture. The place chosen for build- 

 ing is generally a thicket of briers, or a thorn 

 bush. The cat bird family are not very careful 

 about concealing their nest. The reason of this 

 comparative carelessness is, I suppose, that they 

 are all great fighters, and never fail to defend 

 their rights, when they are attacked, no matter 

 from what source. The materials of which its 

 nest is formed are dry leaves and weeds, small 

 twigs, and fine, dry grass. The inside is lined 

 by the small fibrous roots of plants, woven 

 together in the most curious manner. How 

 many times, when a boy, while I have been 

 rambling in a swamp, have I heard the harsh 

 voice of the cat bird, as she flew in alarm from 

 her nest, and have stopped to admire this in- 

 genious structure. The female lays four and 

 sometimes five eggs, of a greenish blue color. 



