CAT-BIRD. 131 



from the Thrushes, I think he more properly belongs to the lat- 

 ter tribe than to any other genus we have. His bill, legs and feet, 

 place and mode of building, the colour of the eggs, his imitative 

 notes, food and general manners, all justify me in removing him 

 to this genus. 



The Cat-bird is one of those unfortunate victims, and indeed 

 the principal, against which credulity and ignorance have so 

 often directed the fascinating quality of the black-snake. A mul- 

 titude of marvellous stories have been told me by people who 

 have themselves seen the poor Cat-birds drawn, or sucked, as 

 they sometimes express it, from the tops of the trees (which, by 

 the by, the Cat-bird rarely visits) one by one, into the yawning 

 mouth of the immoveable snake. It has so happened with me 

 that in all the adventures of this kind that I have personally wit- 

 nessed, the Cat-bird was actually the assailant, and always the 

 successful one. These rencontres never take place but during 

 the breeding time of birds; for whose eggs and young the snake 

 has a particular partiality. It is no wonder that those species 

 whose nests are usually built near the ground, should be the great- 

 est sufferers, and the most solicitous for their safety; hence the 

 cause why the Cat-bird makes such a distinguished figure in 

 most of these marvellous narrations. That a poisonous snake will 

 strike a bird or mouse, and allow it to remain till nearly expiring 

 before he begins to devour it, our observations on the living rat- 

 tle-snake at present kept by Mr. Peale, satisfy us is a fact; but 

 that the same snake, with eyes, breath, or any other known quali- 

 ty he possesses, should be capable of drawing a bird, reluctantly, 

 from the tree tops to its mouth, is an absurdity too great for me 

 to swallow. 



I am led to these observations by a note which I received this 

 morning from my worthy friend Mr. Bartram. " Yesterday," 

 says this gentleman, " I observed a conflict, or contest, between a 

 " Cat-bird and a snake. It took place in a gravel walk, in the 

 " garden, near a dry wall of stone. I was within a few yards of 

 " the combatants. The bird pounced or darted upon the snake, 

 " snapping his bill; the snake would then draw himself quickly 



