Tl'RDID.K — THE THRrsiIPX 53 



Haiuts. The Catbird has a very extended «ie(>u;rjii»hical raiij^e. It is 

 ahiiiidaiit thr()Uj4;hout the Atlantic States, iVoni Floriila to Maine: in the 

 central ]>orti()n ot" the continent it is found as far north as Like Winnepei;. 



On the Pacific coast it has been met with at Panama, and also on the 

 Colunihia Uiver. It is occasional in Cuba and the i>.wiamas, and in the Ber- 

 mudas is a permanent resident. It is also found durinu; the winter months 

 abundant in Central America. It breeds in all the Southern States with 

 ])ossibly the exception of Florida. In Maine, aecordini,' to Professor Verrill, 

 it is as common as in ^lassachusetts, arriving in the former place about the 

 L'llth of May. about a week later than in the vicinity of Boston, and begin- 

 ning to d.'posit its eggs early in June. Near C\dais it is a less common 



visitant. 



The Northex.i \vik\r,'^^- of the Catbird commence early in February, 

 when they make tUe' o^-i.c ranee in Fh)rida, (ieorgia, and the Carolinas. 

 In April they reach ivuir.' , .'-id Pennsylvania, and New England from the 

 1st to the liith of ^lay. Their first appeamnce is usually coincident with 

 the blossoming of the pear-trees. It is not generally a ])opular or welcome 

 visitant, a ])rejudice more or less wide spread existing in regard to it. Yet 

 few birds more deserve kindness at our hands, or will better rei)ay it. Fr«»m 

 its first api)earauce among us, almost to the time of departure in early 

 fall, the air is vocal with the (piaiut but attractive melody, rendered all the 

 more interesting from the natuml song being often blended with notes im- 

 l^erfectly mimicked from the songs of other birds. The song, whether 

 natural or i»' 'tative, is always varied, attmctive, and beautiful. 



The Catou'd, when once established as a welcome guest, soon makes 

 itself })eriectly at home. He is to be seen at all times, and is almost ever in 

 motion. Tliey become cpiite tame, and the male bird will frequently ap])ar- 

 ently delight to sing in the innuediate presence of man. Occasionally they 

 will build their nest in close proximity to a house, and appear unmindful of 

 the presence of the members of the family. 



The Catbird's ])ower of miiiiicry, though limited and imperfectly exer- 

 cised, is fre(iuently very anm. ^. The more difficult notes it mrely attempts 

 to coj)y, and sigiially fails \vhcnever it does so. Tlie whistle of the Quail, 

 the cluck of a hen calling her brcjod, the answer of the young chicks, the 

 note of tlie Pewit Flycatcher, and tlie refrain of Towhee, the Catbird will 

 imitate with so much exactness as not to be distinguished from the original. 



The Catbirds are devoted ])arents, sitting u|)on their eggs with great 

 closeness, fee«ling the young with assiduity, and accompanving them with 

 parental interest when they leave tlie nest, even long a! er they are able 

 to provide for themselves. Intruders from whom danger is a})preheneled 

 they will bohlly attack, attempting to drive away snakes, cats, dogs, and 

 sometimes ven man. If these fail tn .' resort to piteous cries and other 

 manifestations of their great distress. 



Towards each other they are affectionate and devoted, mutually assisting 



