AVES—CAT-BIRD. 501 
THE CAT-BIRD.} 
THIs 1s a very common and numerous species in the United States; and 
one as well known to all classes of people, as his favorite bicars, or black- 
berry bushes. In spring or autumn, on approaching thickets of brambles, 
the first salutation you receive is from the cat-bird; and a stranger, unac- 
quainted with his note, would instantly conclude that some vagrant orphan 
kitten had got bewildered among the briers, and wanted assistance, so exactly 
does the call of the bird resemble the voice of that animal. He is unsuspi- 
cious, and extremely familiar ; for whether in the woods or in the garden, 
where he frequently builds his nest, he seldom allows you to pass without 
paying his respects to you in the usual way. The nest is composed of dry 
leaves, weeds, small twigs, and fine dry grass, lined with fibrous roots. The 
birds show no great solicitude for concealment, though few are more 
interested for the safety of their nest and young. The eggs are four or five, 
of a bluish green color. 
The cat-bird is one of our earliest songsters, beginning generally before 
break of day, and hovering from bush to bush with great sprightliness, when 
there is scarcely light enough to distinguish him. His notes are more 
remarkable for singularity than melody. They consist of short imitations 
of other birds, and other sounds ; but his pipe being rather deficient in clear- 
ness and strength of tone, his imitations fail where these are requisite; yet 
he is not discouraged, but seems to study certain passages with great perse- 
verance, uttering them at first low, and as he succeeds, higher, and more 
free ; no ways embarrassed by the presence of a spectator, even within a few 
yards of him. On attentively listening to him for some time, you can per- 
ceive that he introduces into his performance all the odd sounds, and quaint 
passages he has been able to collect. Upon the whole, he merits a place 
among the most agreeable of our general performers. 
Few people in the country respect the cat-bird. On the contrary, it 13 
generally the object of dislike; and the boys of the United States entertain 
1 Turdus lividus, Witson. 
