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CHAPTER III. 



CAT-BIRD. Mimus felivox. 



This quaint, but beautiful songster, of 

 the same tribe as our Mocking-bird, and 

 so similar in habit and manners, is another 

 of our neglected native residents. In his 

 song, he is scarcely inferior to that well 

 known bird, and in every way equal to his 

 delightful relation, the French Mocking- 

 bird, or Brown Thrush. Possessing as he 

 does, at once all the varied gifts of both 

 these delightful songsters in an eminent 

 degree, it has long been a wonder to me 

 why his musical powers have not been 

 more fully appreciated. But so it is. 

 Humbleness of colour, united with the 

 harsh, scolding, cat-like call, from which he 

 derives his name, and for which he is 

 often killed by the ignorant farm boy, 

 have prevented him from being so gene- 



