90 BIRD-LAND ECHOES. 



be forever on the watch for our approach and quick 

 to dart away at our appearance. We never have to 

 look long or far to discover it. Indeed, it is so far 

 trustful, strange to say, that it has a word of wel- 

 come ; and would we were always moved to accept 

 it as such and return the attention. I speak without 

 hesitation, for I have known of kindness being shown 

 a cat-bird, and there was abundant evidence of its 

 appreciation. We are apt to hear the bird spoken 

 of as mischievous, but a better term is full of fun. 

 The cat-bird has this quality in greater measure than, 

 possibly, any other species. 



It is not unusual for one or more of these birds to 

 stay all winter in some secluded spot where green- 

 brier berries and insects under dead leaves supply 

 them with food. Occasionally a chewink and a cat- 

 bird in friendly association will remain from autumn 

 until spring about a low, swampy piece of ground 

 which the water that wells to the surface keeps free 

 from frost. It is interesting to meet with these birds 

 when the ground is covered with snow and not even 

 a green leaf is visible ; at such a time the proper 

 winter birds, I fancy, look upon them with suspicion ; 

 at least I so interpreted a great commotion one morn- 

 ing when a Carolina wren was haranguing the gath- 

 ered company at the top of its voice, while at the 

 same time tree-sparrows chattered, a jay screamed, 

 and every bird of the meadows and hill-side collected 

 in a fern- clad nook that yet retained a trace of sum- 

 mer's freshness. All that I could discover of an 

 unusual character was a chewink and a cat-bird that 



