58 CATBIRD. 
consists chiefly of noxious insects, such as worms, grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles, etc. 
The bird’s usefulness as a destroyer of innumerable noxious insects cannot be estimated 
too highly. It is a service compared with which the small allowance of fruit which it 
steals is of little importance. From early morning to sunset it watches over the fruit- 
trees and kills the insects that would destroy them or their fruit. True, it takes its 
share. especially of cherries, but for every one it takes it eats thousands of insects. 
Where there are no small birds there will be little fruit. 
In the last part of September the Catbirds leave the Northern States. None are to 
be seen in southern Missouri by the end of October. They migrate as far south as Cuha 
and Panama. 
Unfortunately this fine singing bird has many enemies. Many nests built in gar- 
dens are destroyed by prowling cats. In swamps and woods, skunks, raccoons, opos- 
sums, and snakes rob the nests of their eggs and young. Notwithstanding its musical 
ability, its inoffensive disposition, and the benefit it confers upon the horticulturist and 
farmer, the Catbird is an object of derision and persecution, as undeserved as it is 
cruel.* Bad boys destroy the nests and pursue the old birds with sticks and stones. 
This hatred and desire to persecute probably find their explanation in the bird’s mewing, 
somewhat cat-like notes, which might be disagreeable to ignorant people. The modest 
color also, which I, for my part, find exceedingly pleasing and attractive, and the by no 
means pleasant popular name of “Catbird” may also contribute to making it disliked. 
—I am sorry to say that many of our boys are so low-minded and barbarous as to 
stone every strange and fine-colored bird they see. Near towns and cities half grown 
boys roam about in the woods killing birds. No wonder that our beautiful native 
songsters are becoming so rare even now, that bright-colored birds, like the Scarlet 
Tanager, the Red-headed Woodpecker and others, are all but exterminated in some 
localities where they were once abundant. 
The Catbird is well adapted to cage-life. It is to be treated in the same way as 
the Mockingbird. For an account of the “Tricks and Manners” of the Catbird in con- 
finement I refer the reader to Mrs. Olive Thorne Miller’s admirable little book ‘Bird 
Ways.” 
NAMES: Carsirp, Cat Flycatcher (Penn.), Merle Cathird, Chat.— Merle 4 derriere (D’Orb.). Zorzal Gato 
(Cuba). Katzenvogel and Katzendrossel (German). 
SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Muscicapa carolinensis L. (1766). Turdus carolinensis Licht. (1823). Orpheus caro- 
linensis Aud. (1839). Mimus carolinensis Gray (1856). Felivox carolinensis Bonap. (1853). Lucar 
lividus Bartr. (1791). Turdus lividus Wils. (1810). Turdus felivox Vieill. (1831). Mimus felivox 
Bonap. (1838). GALEOSCOPTES CAROLINENSIS Cap. (1850), A. O. U. ‘Code and Check List” (1886). 
DESCRIPTION: Slate-colored, paler below. Crown of the head, tail and wings black; under tail-covert (vent) 
chestnut. Bill and feet black.— Young more sooty-colored, with little black.—Length 11—12 inches; 
wing 3.50, tail 4 inches. 
* See Stearns and Coues’ ‘New England Bird Lift.” Vol. I, p. 63, G4. 
