THE YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. 



I am often heard, but seldom 

 seen. If I were a little boy or a 

 little girl, grown people would 

 me I tell should be seen and not 

 heard. That's the difference 

 between you and a bird like me, 

 you see. 



It would repay you to make 

 my acquaintance. I am such a 

 jolly bird. Sometimes- 1 get all 

 the dogs in my neighborhood 

 howling by whistling just like 

 their masters. Another time I 

 mew like a cat, then again I give 

 some soft sweet notes different 

 from those of any bird you ever 

 heard. 



In the spring, when my mate 

 and I begin housekeeping, I do 

 some very funny things, like the 

 clown in a circus. I feel so 

 happy that I go up a tree branch 

 by branch, by short flights and 

 jumps, till I get to the very top. 

 Then I launch myself in the air, 

 as a boy dives when he goes 

 swimming, and you would laugh 

 to see me flirting my tail, and 

 dangling my legs, coming down 

 into the thicket by odd jerks and 

 motions. 



It really is so funny that I 

 burst out laughing myself, say- 

 ing, chatter-chatter, chat-chat-chat- 

 chat! I change my tune some- 

 times, and it sounds like who 

 who, and tea-boy. 



You must be cautious though, 

 if you want to see me go through 



my performance. Even when I 

 am doing those funny things in 

 the air I have an eye out for 

 my enemies. Should I see you 

 I would hide myself in the 

 bushes and as long as you were 

 in sight I would be angry and 

 say chut, chut! as cross as 

 could be. 

 Have I any other name ? 



Yes, I am called the Yellow 

 Mockingbird. But that name 

 belongs to another. His picture 

 was in the June number of BIRDS, 

 so you know something about 

 him. They say I imitate other 

 birds as he does. But I do 

 more than that. I can throw my 

 voice in one place, while I arn in 

 another. 



It is a great trick, and I get 

 lots of sport out of it. 



Do you know what that trick 

 is called ? If not ask your 

 papa. It is such a long word I 

 am afraid to use it. 



About my nest ? 



Oh, yes, I am coming to that. 

 I arrive in this country about 

 May 1, and leave for the south 

 in the winter. My nest is noth- 

 ing to boast of ; rather big, made 

 of leaves, bark, and dead twigs, 

 and lined with fine grasses and 

 fibrous roots. My mate lays 

 eggs, white in color, and our 

 little ones are, like their papa, 

 very handsome. 



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