i86 BEACH GRASS 



sparrows, barn and tree swallows, cedar waxwing, 

 red-eyed vireo, yellow warbler, Maryland yellow- 

 throat, redstart, catbird, brown thrasher, robin 

 and bluebird. There is an advantage in dwell- 

 ing in a small forest : one can also hear the birds 

 of the fields and meadows outside. 



The catbird is handicapped by his name and 

 is not appreciated as he should be. It is true that 

 he mews like a cat, but his song although varying 

 much, is always interesting and often sweet and 

 musical. It is interesting because the catbird is 

 a mimic — not nearly as good a one as his cousin 

 the mocking bird — but well worth listening to for 

 the surprises he affords. I was once paddling 

 on the Ipswich River when a catbird suddenly 

 swooped down across my bow uttering a rattle 

 that almost deceived me into thinking him to 

 be a kingfisher. A gifted individual that has 

 sung in my forest has imitated some of the de- 

 lightful strains of the rose-breasted grosbeak as 

 well as those of the red-eyed vireo, and has varied 

 his performance by scolding like a blue jay. 

 Other bird notes that I have heard mimicked by 

 catbirds are the chewink, the robin, whose alarm 



