CATBIRD. 197 



I 



and thus, coupled with an ill name, this delightful and familiar 

 songster, who seeks out the very society of man and reposes 

 an unmerited confidence in his protection, is treated with un- 

 deserved obloquy and contempt. The flight of the Catbird is 

 laborious, and usually continued only from bush to bush ; his 

 progress, however, is very wily, and his attitudes and jerks 

 amusingly capricious. He appears to have very little fear of 

 enemies, often descends to the ground in quest of insects, and 

 though almost familiar, is very quick in his retreat from real 

 danger. 



The food of the Catbird is similar to that of the preceding 

 species, being insects and worms, particularly beetles, and va- 

 rious garden fruits ; feeding his young often on cherries and 

 various kinds of berries. Sometimes these birds are observed 

 to attack snakes when they approach the vicinity of the nest, 

 and commonly succeed in driving oif the enemy ; when bitten, 

 however, by the poisonous kinds, it is probable, as related, 

 that they may act in siich a manner as to appear laboring 

 under the influence of fascination. The Catbird, when raised 

 from the nest, is easily domesticated, becomes a very amusing 

 inmate, and seems attached to his cage, as to a dwelling or 

 place of security. About dawn of day, if at large, he flirts 

 about with afirected wildness, repeatedly jerks his tail and 

 wings with the noise almost of a whip, and stretching forth his 

 head, opens his mouth and mews. Sometimes this curious 

 cry is so guttural as to be uttered without opening the bill. He 

 often also gives a squeal as he flies from one place to another, 

 and is very tame, though pugnacious to all other birds which 

 approach him for injury. When wanting food, he stirs round 

 with great uneasiness, jerks everything about within his reach, 

 and utters the feeble cry of the caged Mocking Bird. A very 

 amusing individual, which I now describe, began his vocal 

 powers by imitating the sweet and low warble of the Song 

 Sparrow, as given in the autumn ; and from his love of imita- 

 tion on other occasions, 1 am inclined to believe that he pos- 

 sesses no original note of his own, but acquires and modulates 

 the songs of other birds. Like the Robin, he is exceedingly 



