502 AVES— THRUSH. 



great prejudice and contempt for this bird, its nest, and young. The princi- 

 pal cause of this dislike, seems to be some similarity of taste, and clashing 

 of interest, between the bird and the farmer. The cat-bird is fond of large 

 ripe garden strawberries ; so is the farmer, for the good price they bring in 

 market. The cat-bird loves the best and richest early cherries; so does the 

 farmer, for they are sometimes the most profitable of his early fruit. The 

 cat-bird has a particular partiality for the finest ripe mellow pears; and these 

 are also particular favorites of the farmer. But the cat-bird has frequently 

 the advantage of the farmer, by snatching off" the first fruits of these deli- 

 cious productions; and the farmer takes revenge, by shootinghim down with 

 his gun, as he finds old hats and scare-crows are no impediments in his way 

 to these forbidden fruits, and nothing but this resource can restrain his 

 visits. The boys are now set to watch the cherry trees with guns; and thus 

 co.uiuences a train of prejudices and antipathies, that commonly continue 

 through life. 



The cat-bird measures nine inches in length ; at a small distance he 

 appears nearly black; but it is of a deep slate color, and the tail-coverts are 

 deep red. The female differs little from the male. 



WATER THRUSH. 1 



This bird is remarkable for its partiality to brooks, rivers, shores, ponds, 

 and streams of water; wading in the shallows in search of aquatic insects, 

 wagging the tail almost continually, chattering as it flies. It is exceedingly 

 shy, darting away on the least attempt to approach it, and uttering a sharp 

 chirp, as if exceedingly alarmed. The cane-brakes, swampy river shores, 

 and deep watery solitudes of Louisiana, Tennessee, and the Mississippi terri- 

 tory, possess them in abundance; there they are eminently distinguished by 

 the loudness, sweetness, and expressiv^e vivacity of their notes, which begin 

 very high and clear, and at last are hardly articulate. At these times, the 

 musician is perched on the middle branches of a tree over the brook or river 

 bank, pouring out his charming melody, that may be distinctly heard for 

 nearly half a mile. The voice of this little bird is exquisitely sweet and 

 expressive. 



' Turdus aquations, Wilson. 



