TIIUDID.K — TIIH TIIKUSllKS. 53 



Hahits. Till! Catbinl liiis u very cxloiulcd j;v(ij;Tiiiiliiciil Viiiij^e. It is 

 iiliuii(l:iiit throiigliout tin; Atliiiitic States, iVoin Kloridii to Maine: in tlie 

 central jtortion oi' tlie continent it is t'onml as tar norlli as Luke Winneiiei;-. 



On the racitie coast i lias lieen met witli at Tauania, and also 011 the 

 Columliia Itiver. It is occasional in ('ul)ii and the Bahamas, and in tlie ller- 

 nnulas is a iiermaneiit resident. It is also i'onnd diirinsj; the winter months 

 almiidaiit in Central America. It hreeds in all the Sontheni Slates witli 

 ])(!ssilily the exce])tion of Florida. In Maine, accordinjj; to Professor \'errill, 

 it is as coiiiinoii as in ^lassachnsetts, arri\iiig in the former jilaee alioiit tlic 

 Lllltli of May. ahont a week latcir than in the vicinity of Hoston, and l)e;^in- 

 iiiiiij,' to deposit its ei;gs early in dune. Near Calais it is a h'ss comnion 

 visitant. 



Tlie Xorthern migrations of the Catbird commence early in Fehruary, 

 when they make their apiiearance in Florid. 1, (ieorgia, and the Caroliiia.s. 

 In Ai)ril they reach Virginia and I'ennsylvaiiia, and New Fngland from the 

 1st to the KItli of ^lay. Their first aiipearaiice is usually coincident with 

 the lilossoming of tin; pear-trees, it is 1101 generally a iiojiular or welcome 

 visitant, a i)rejutlice more or less wide spread existing in regard to it. Vet 

 few birds more deserve kindness at our hands, or will better rejiay it. F'rmii 

 its iirst appearaiu'c among us, almost to the time of departure in early 

 fall, the air is vocal with the (piaint but attractive melody, rendered all the 

 more interesting from tlie natural song being often bl'iulcd with notes im- 

 jierfec'ly mimicked from the songs of other birds. Tiie song, whether 

 natural or imitative, is always varied, attractive, and beautiful. 



Tiie Catl)ird, wlicn once established as a welconu' guest, soon makes 

 itself perfectly at home, lli^ is to be .seen at all times, and is almost ever in 

 motion. They beconu^ (|uite tame, and tlii' male liird will frequently appar- 

 ently deligiit to sing in the immetliate presiuice of man. Occasionally they 

 will build their nest in clo.se jiroxiniity to a house, and appear unmindful of 

 the presence of the niemiiers of the fainilv. 



Tiie Catbird's power of mimicry, tiiough limited and imjierfectly exer- 

 cised, is freipieiilly very amusing. The more dillicult notes it rarely attem]its 

 to copy, and signally fails whenever it dots .so. The whislli' of the (i)uail, 

 the (duck of a hen calling iier iaood, the answer of tlie yiaiiig chicks, the 

 note of tiie I'ewit Flycatcli am' lu' ivfrain of Towlice, tlu' Catbird will 

 imitate witii so much exactness as . to l)c distinguished from the original. 



Tiie Catbirds are di'voted jiaicnls, silting upon their eggs with great 

 closeness, feeding the young with a.ssiduity, and accompanying them with 

 parental intenst when they leave the nest, even long aft.'r they are able 

 to jirovide for tiieinselv".. In'ruders IVoni whom danger is apprehended 

 they will boldly attack, attempLing to d.ive away snakes, cats, dogs, and 

 sometimes even man. if these fail they resort to piteiais cries and other 

 maiiil(!stations of their great distress. 



Towards oach other they are ailectionate and devoted, mutually assisting 



