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AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



FOUR CATBIRD'S EGGS AND OWNER. 



curious to a certain extent, but Catbirds seem determined to find out 

 what you are doing, and why you are doing it, and also what you are 

 going to do next. They serve as the watchmen of the bird world and 

 their note of alarm is one of the first to greet you when you visit a 

 favorable locality. They are very pugnacious and fierce in the defense 

 of their homes, and they appear also to have taken unto themselves the 

 guardianship of the neighborhood for they are equally determined in 

 the defense of the nests of other species. 



If you secret yourself in some thicket and while remaining quiet 

 make some slight unusual noise, the chances are that a Catbird will be 

 the first to put in an appearance to investigate. His contortions, both 

 of actions and speech, are worth the trial to witness. Now standing 

 on tiptoe, with his neck stretched to the uttermost, now squatted 

 down, with his head down lower than his feet, he will regard you from 

 all points of vantage. Should he chance to be in a pleasant frame of 

 mind, he will greet you with a soft clucking "put, put," followed by a 

 purring "meouw." If you move or even remain quiet for a long time, 



