FRIENDS IX FEATHERS 



age, every time the opportunity comes to tell on him and urge his 

 partial extermination, at least, I find myself hiding his sins, 

 excusing his shortcomings, all because of his exquisite song. 



There is small enough cause to love him. He follows me 

 through the woods for a mile arousing suspicion and fear in the 

 hearts of more trusting birds by his questionings. Many weary 

 waits with a set camera have been just at the point of fruition 

 when a Cat-bird came mewling around, made my subject flighty 

 by his intrusion, so spoiling my picture. 



He is more pervasive and inquisitive than the Blue Jay. 

 He differs from the Jay. Convince a Jay that you are a part 

 of woodland life, that you are not shooting or making a dis- 

 turbance, then he will go away and leave you alone. But a Cat- 

 bird is always questioning, never seeming to find a satisfactory 

 answer. He fails to become accustomed to your presence around 

 other nests, which is pure perversity, for he will accept you near 

 his own when he feels assured that you are doing no damage. If 

 hunger-pangs or family cares did not strongly call him, he would 

 follow me all day, watching, questioning and interfering with 

 what was happening to other birds. 



YOUXG CAT-BIRDS 



