502 AVES—THRUSH. 
great prejudice and contempt for this bird, its nest, and young. The princt 
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 shooting him 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 
commences 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. 
Tus 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 expressive 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 exquisitery sweet and 
expressive. 
—_—— + 
1 Turdus aquaticus, Witson. 
