BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



the ground. Sometimes in the spring when the 

 foliage is late in coming out it will resort to 

 the ground and hop about in search of insects, 

 a dot of rich, warm brown on the cold green. 



Our earliest memory of the Catbird was one 

 evening in June when the sweetest of bird songs 

 was poured forth from a small evergreen at the 

 corner of the verandah. We peeped out very 

 carefully lest we should alarm the singer, and 

 there was a satiny, slate-colored bird singing 

 a song sweeter and more varied than that of 

 its fine-voiced brother, the Thrasher. Finish- 

 ing its song it flew away to the shrubbery, 

 where was its nest, and we heard its cat-like 

 meuw, the note which has given it its name. 

 There are still many who have not listened for 

 its singing and do not know it has any note be- 

 sides its cat call. They have missed much, for 

 it is one of the finest bird singers we have. 



This year the Catbirds were our nearest 

 neighbors. They arrived upon the lawn early 

 in May and the barberry hedge seemed to take 

 their fancy from the very first. They made no 

 rash decisions, however, but inspected every 

 available bush and tree with great care, and 

 after each decision they returned to the hedge. 

 [63] 



