CATBIRD. 57 
the chickens in the barn-yard cackled, and old hens hurried to get their broods in safety. 
In the woods and thickets the Catbird thus warns other birds and even quadrupeds. 
Our slate-colored tenant of the shrubbery is one of the finest singers. From its 
arrival in the spring till the young leave the nest, it makes the air about us vocal with 
its quaint and charming melodies. The song is exceedingly rich, varied and euphonious. 
Indeed, the bird is a rival of the Thrasher and far excels in this respect the Robin and 
other song birds of its bushy home. Though it also possesses extraordinary ability in 
mimicking the songs of other birds, its performance is almost entirely original. The 
rule so applicable to other songsters holds true of the Catbird: not all males are mas- 
ters in the art of singing. There are good singers, and such as show no great ability in 
this respe¢ét. In southwestern Missouri I have heard Catbirds that were able to avoid 
all discordant sounds, adopting only the sweetest notes of their own and other birds’ 
songs. I was frequently unable to decide whether a particular singer was a Catbird or 
a Mockingbird, for both birds dwell in the same localities and each vies the other 
in singing. Some years ago I kept a Catbird in confinement which not only had an 
unusually beautiful song of its own, but could rival many Mockingbirds in imitating 
other birds’ melodies. The call of the Whippoorwill, the song of the Wood Thrush, the 
metallic notes of the Towhee Bunting were imitated perfectly and fused with its own 
song to form a wonderful piece of melody.— When singing the Cathird almost always 
perches in the top of a bush or small tree. It ruffles its plumage and accompanies its 
notes with lively movements. The bird has been represented in such an inspired attitude 
by our ingenious artist Mr. R. Ridgway (see Plate III). Sometimes it flies singing to 
the ground, then flutters in ecstasy into the thicket, and finally appears singing again 
in the top of some shrub. It sings most diligently early in the morning and toward 
evening. 
Although a very trustful and familiar bird, the Catbird knows well where to settle 
and where not. In gardens where many ornamental shrubs are planted, where it is 
protected and cherished, it lays aside all fear, comes even to the honeysuckles and grape 
vines of the verandah and to the bushes and trees about the windows and often peers 
inquisitively into the rooms. It never takes the Catbird long to ascertain where it is a 
welcome visitor, and it makes itself at home at once. As soon as it is satisfied that you 
are its friend, it will approach you with a familiarity that is quite irresistible. It seems 
to wish to attract your attention by its great variety of positions, attitudes, and musical 
efforts. ‘No musical young lady was ever more ambitious of entertaining an audience, 
however small and select, than our slate-colored songster. It will come down, in the 
excitement of its musical ardor, to the lowest bough, within a few feet of one’s head, 
and devote itself to your entertainment as long as you honor it with your atten- 
tion.” The Catbirds are invaluable denizens of our gardens and shrubberies, of the 
thickets, the swamps and woods. They weave a web of quaint poetry about their 
native haunts and fill with joyful life surroundings which but for them would be desolate. 
The flight of our songster is not very rapid or skilful. It avoids, as much as 
possible, traversing wide treeless spaces. Usually it flies from bush to bush, from thicket 
to thicket, spreading its tail as it moves forward. 
Food is usually sought on the ground, but frequently also among the foliage. It 
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