THE MOCKING-BIRD. 543 



Every one knows the common catchweed so plentiful in waste 

 ground. The long trailing stems of this plant are used by a 

 pretty little bird in making its nest, and are most ingeniously 

 twined among the branches into the needful shape. The bird 

 which uses this plant is the Whitethroat {Gurruca cinerea) 

 sometimes called the Haychat and Nettle-creeper. Its ordinary 

 name is due to the white feathers of the throat, and it is called 

 Nettle-creeper because it is so active among the weeds that 

 fringe the hedgerows. The nest is always placed low, and I 

 have mostly found it towards the top of some stubby bush or 

 shrub, about three feet from the ground. Although placed in 

 such localities, it is not very easy of discovery, as it is well 

 hidden by the foliage, and in most instances the boughs must 

 be pressed aside before the nest can be made clearly visible. 

 Although the catchweed is used by the bird in making the 

 framework of the nest, it does not consider itself bound to 

 employ no other substance, but uses grass blades and vegetable 

 fibres. The lining of the nest is simply made of fine hay, 

 among which are twined a variable number of horsehairs, some- 

 times only twenty or thirty, and sometimes in such a quantity 

 as almost to conceal the hay. It is in allusion to the lining of 

 the nest that the bird is called Haychat. The nest varies much 

 in thickness, probably in proportion to the density of the bush 

 in which it is placed. 



The celebrated Mocking-Bied of America (Ttirdus [or Mimiui] 

 polyglottiis), is also one of the Branch-builders. 



The situation chosen by the bird is always variable, depending 

 almost entirely on the nature of the district and the character of 

 the inhabitants. Should the bird be resident in some wild part 

 of the country, it takes some pains to conceal its nest, choosing 

 the most impenetrable thicket that can be found. A thick 

 thorn-bush is a favourite spot, because the sharp points serve to 

 deter intruders from forcing their way to the nest; and the 

 cedar is sometimes chosen, because its dark masses of foliage 

 afford such a cover for the nest that it can scarcely be detected 

 even by one who is looking for it. 



But, should the bird build in some inhabited locality, where it 

 is taught by instinct that it will not be molested, it makes its 

 nest close to the house, and cares not to hide it. Six or seven 



