"GENERAL BEM." 285 



many such instances of its devoted valor, in battling with 

 snakes and cats. 



" Yesterday," says Mr. Bartram, " 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 into a coil, ready for a blow, but 

 the bird would cautiously circumvent him at a little distance, 

 now and then running up to and snapping at him, but keep- 

 ing at a sufficient distance to avoid a blow. After some 

 minutes it became a running fight, the snake retreating, and 

 at last he took shelter in the wall. The cat-bird had young 

 ones in the bushes near the field of battle." 



Audubon also bears ample testimony to the unhesitating 

 self-devotion of this charming little songster, when once its 

 sympathies have been aroused, as well as to the attractive 

 character of its song, and its sagacious estimate of the mo- 

 tives and character of those who approach its nest : 



" No sooner has the cat-bird made its appearance in the 

 country of its choice, than its song is heard from the topmost 

 branches of the trees around, in the dawn of the morning. 

 This song Is a compound of many of the gentler trills and 

 sweet modulations of our various woodland choristers, de- 

 livered with apparent caution, and with all the attention and 

 softness necessary to enable the performer to please the ear 

 of his mate. Each cadence passes on without faltering, and 

 if you are acquainted with the songs of the birds he so sweetly 

 imitates, you are sure to recognize the manner of the differ- 

 ent species. "When the warmth of his loving bosom engages 

 him to make choice of the notes of our best songsters, he 

 brings forth sounds as mellow and as powerful as those of 

 the thrasher and mocking bird. These medleys, when heard 

 in the calm and balmy hours of retiring day, always seem to 

 possess a double power, and he must have a dull ear indeed. 



