STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 231 



Black snakes and cat birds are great enemies. 

 The nest of this bird is never raised very high 

 from the ground, and as the black snake is 

 fond of eggs, he often tries to help himself to 

 those in the cat bird's nest. But the bird uni- 

 formly attacks the snake, and is generally the 

 victor. ''Yesterday," says one who took a 

 great deal of pleasure in watching the habits of 

 birds, "I observed a conflict between a cat 

 bird and a snake. I was within a few yards of 

 the combatants. The bird pounced upon the 

 snake, snapping his bill. The snake would 

 then draw himself into a coil, ready for a blow ; 

 but the bird would cautiously avoid him, now 

 and then running up to him, and then retreat- 

 ing to avoid the blow. After some minutes it 

 became a running fight, the snake retreating, 

 till at last he took shelter in the wall. The cat 

 bird had a nest in the bushes, near the field of 

 battle." 



An eminent naturalist took two half-fledged 

 young cat birds from one nest, and placed them 

 safely in another nest, which contained five 

 eggs. The female soon turned out the vaga- 

 bonds. But the male, seeing them at the foot 

 of the tree, and hearing their cries of distress, 

 acted the part of the good Samaritan to them. 

 He went and got some food for them, and con- 



