WAYLAYING THE DAWN 



disturbed by their position for the 

 night. He stretched one leg and the 

 wing on that side simultaneously, then 

 the other leg and the other wing, a bird 

 yawn as expressive as the human one. 

 Then he cocked his head on one side 

 with a gesture of pleased surprise and 

 excitement and said, " Mi-a-aw ! " He 

 too had seen the invader of the swamp. 

 The catbird is a good singer, that is, 

 a good mimic. His taste is good, too, 

 for he imitates only the best. Here in 

 the North he imitates the brown thrush, 

 no doubt, all things considered, our best 

 vocalist. So well does he imitate him 

 that you shall not say of a surety that 

 this is the catbird singing and yonder 

 is the thrush. In the South he imitates 

 the mocking-bird with equal fidelity. You 

 would say on casual acquaintance that 

 he was our ablest singer and most ex- 



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