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THE CANADIAN MOCKING-BIRD 



This most versatile, and perhaps most musical, of all 

 our feathered singers is enjoying the inspiration of 

 the season and contributing to the melody of the 

 lengthening evenings. His sombre coat of slaty grey, 

 darker on the head and tail, lends aid to his naturally 

 secluded habits, for he likes to move about among the 

 low thickets, where his disappearing form may some- 

 times be mistaken for a Robin. The under tail covert 

 of chestnut or dark red is a distinguishing mark 

 which sometimes aids identification. But the Catbird, 

 as he is more familiarly called, is generally recognised 

 by his varied accomplishments. The decided, 

 colloquial mew, as of a vagrant cat, coming from the 

 Alder, Dogwood, and Hazel bushes, is often the first 

 intimation of his presence. He does not long adhere 

 to the disquieting feline sounds, but breaks out into 

 an answering melody, sweet, clear, and of wonderful 

 compass. The shrillest trebles alternate so quickly 

 with the richest altos in the bird register that a 

 listener is easily deluded into fancying that two birds 

 are singing together. Then the cat mews again, and 

 the singing seems scarcely interrupted. 



Throughout the entire day the thickets are en- 

 livened by an occasional strain from the hidden 

 singer, but as evening advances and the sunlight 



