MEMORIES OF A MAY MORNING. 59 



should the intruder venture closer she would no doubt 

 punish him with strokes of her bill and wings. 



The cat-bird belongs to the same family as the 

 southern mocking-bird,* and by many persons has 

 been known by the name of " False Mocking-bird." 



It is a common idea that the note of the cat-bird is 

 most discordant, like the mewing of an angry cat ; but 

 this is, I think, a mistake. The true song of the cat- 

 bird is rich, full and melodious, more like that of the 

 English thrush, f In point of fact, this bird is the best 

 songster amdng the summer visitants in Canada. 



I have fully satisfied myself that the harsh, wild 

 squalling cry attributed to the parent birds is that of 

 the young birds when the mother has forsaken them, 

 leaving them to shift for themselves, and, like weaned 

 children, the call is for food and companionship. This 

 is my own observation from watching the birds. • 



* Mimus polyglottos. fTttrdus melodious. 



