FAMILY Troglodytldx. 



Again, the voice of the Catbird generally comes from 

 the thicket, perhaps near some meandering streamlet, 

 and to see the fellow sing is indeed a rare treat, for lie 

 does not fancy being watched. But with the Thrasher 

 conditions are reversal; Ids voice comes from one of the 

 topmost branches of a tree on the meadow where he 

 holds a conspicuous position and commands an exten- 

 sive outlook. He does not care in the least whether you 

 observe him or not; the business of song is too import- 

 ant a matter to brook interruption, so he proceeds in an 

 energetic manner with an eye on you and a mental 

 reservation, perhaps, to be on guard lest you approach 

 too near, and finally finishes the task in hand as though 

 it were a good thing to get it off his mind in thoroughly 

 complete shape, without haste and without rest. Mr. 

 Cheney seems to think he sings in a fine frenzy of in- 

 spiration; he says, " As the fervor increases his long and 

 elegant tail droops; all his feathers separate; his whole 

 plumage is lifted, it floats, trembles; his head is raised and 

 his bill is wide open; there is no mistake, it is the power 

 of the god. No pen can report him now: we must wait 

 until the frenzy passes." That is an exceedingly good 

 pen description of the bird in the attitude of singing, 

 which it would be idle to attempt to match. Watch 

 the graceful little musician as he performs, and note his 

 complete absorption in the music; his long, slender bill 

 is wide open, his head is thrown back, and his notes are 

 poured forth in rapid succession; his pauses are rhyth- 

 mical and almost exactly in accordance with metronome 

 time; his notes are in groups of two, three, four, and 

 even five, nearly every group is repeated once, and each 

 nc is in a voice register sharply contrasting with the 

 other; he sings high and he sings low, sometimes with 

 an overpowering overtone, other times with a clear and 

 liquid whistle; every one of the note-groups resembles 

 some portion of the Catbird's song, yet each is delivered 

 in a manner altogether too loud and emphatic to keep 

 one long in doubt as to the singer.* My notation shows 

 repeated phrases and rhythmic jai. 



* Read also what Mr. Bradford Torrey has so charmingly written 

 Ml the sun;; mi pap- I IT of Hirdsin the BH. >/(. 



214 



