bushes, M-here an entanglement of the foundation with the stems is necessary for a support. The average 

 of nests in the former position is between five and six inches in external diameter, by four deep. In the 

 latter position they frequently measure eight to twelve inches in diameter, by six deep. The diameter 

 of cavity averages about three and one-fourth, the depth two and one-half inches ; from this they rarely 

 vary half an inch. 



EGGS: 



The complement of the first set consists of four or five eggs; the second, of two or three. They 

 are dark green in color, and average .95 x .69. They seldom measure less than .88 or more than 1.05 

 in long diameter, or less than .60 or more than .75 in short diameter. Rarely white eggs are found. 



DIFFERENTIAL POmTS : 



If the color of the egg is once fixed in the mind, no difficulty will ever occur in identifying them, 

 as the color is very uniform and entirely different from that of any other egg, not only of this State 

 but of entire North America. The nest may always be recognized by its size and materials. 



REMARKS : 



The drawing on Plate XVII was made from a nest built the third week in May, 1878. Its found- 

 ation is composed of twigs of oak, Aveed-stems, and slender pieces of graj^evine. The superstructure 

 consists largely of grapevine-bark ; the lining is of rootlets. It represents the average size and position. 



Owing to a popular prejudice, the Catbird is much persecuted; they have the reputation of sucking 

 eggs and killing the young of other birds, besides stealing the berries and fruit of the garden. Hoav 

 the first accusation was started, and the cause of its wide-spread dissemination, it is difficult to deter- 

 mine ; so far as I am aware, the evidence is all circumstantial. The cry of the bird is so like the 

 animal after which it is named, that the association is not at all calculated to give it character; and 

 where the Catbird is most observed during the nesting-season the Blue Jay is so abundant that I am 

 inclined to the ox)inion that the sins of the latter have been shouldered upon the former. That the 

 Catbird frequents the cherry-trees and berry-bushes, and uninvited helps himself to the fruit, can not 

 be denied, nor can it be gainsayed that this loss is more than compensated by the amount of worms and 

 insects destroyed. It would hardly be justice to this much-abused Thrush to pass him by Avithout some 

 mention of his song, for of all our singing birds, save one, there is none that can excel him in variety 

 and combination of notes, though it must be admitted that they are at times very harsh and unpleasant. 

 There is, however, great difference in individuals; some have not only a song peculiar to their species, 

 but also mimic unexceptionably the birds by Avhich they are surrounded. A Catbird which some years 

 since built for several seasons in the yard of a friend, so excelled as a vocalist and mimic, that he at- 

 tracted the attention and admiration of the whole neighborhood. At intervals throughout the day, from 

 a favorite perch upon a pear-tree, he would drop his tail and wings, loosen his feathers until they 

 seemed to stand almost on end, and assuming a comical, semi-quizzical look, pour forth volumes of as 

 pure notes as ever came from a feathery throat. But it wns in the early morning and late evening that 

 he made his best efforts. After the sun had gone down, and the western heavens were aglow with soft 

 red light, he seemed in his happiest mood. At such a time, seated upon his favorite limb, he com- 

 manded the attention of a large audience, Avhich he would first please, then astonish, then disappoint, 

 then enra^Dture, then amuse, and finally, just as twilight Avas fading into night, as if it was a fitting 

 tail-piece to his opera-bouffe, he would convulse his hearers with laughter by mimicking the crow of a 

 young cochin rooster confined in a coop near by; after Avhieh he Avould suddenly drop from the tree to 

 the bushes beneath, Avhere his mate sat upon the nest. In the Spring of 1873 he failed to return, to the 

 great disappointment of man^^ friends. 



76 



