OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 3 1 



by its mirth-provoking arrangements. Its notes 

 are often well selected; but it occasionably hap- 

 pens that its well-tuned unisons are unavoidably 

 marred, it seems to us, by the introduction of 

 some misplaced or ridiculous passage. 



The following syllables express a tolerably 

 accurate representation of a portion of the song 

 of what might be deemed a capital singer: — twUr- 

 twS- l-tmlch-twich-twe-l-twnu, fwd-weet, kee-fkare, 

 kweer, t^wUk-ckuk-tini, pee-dee, chou, che, mse, twlii, 

 che-che-che. When alarmed by an intruder, a , 

 harsh disagreeable sound which has been likened 

 to the cry of a cat is heard; this note is also 

 repeated on the approach of any object of fear or 

 disgust. It may be somewhat accurately expressed 

 by the syllable meydh. 



. When mating is over, much time is spent in 

 selecting a locality for building purposes. The 

 injudiciousness of the selection is not always fore- 

 seen, and a nest is often nearly completed before 

 the mistake is discovered. In this predicament, 

 instead of "making the best of a bad bargain,'" the 

 birds totally ignore the site for another better 

 suited to their taste. 



Few species will tolerate for any considerable 

 time the scrutiny of human beings whilst engaged 

 in nest-building, but will rather suspend operations 

 until the annoyance has disappeared. Not so 

 with the Cat Bird; where accustomed to man, it 

 will work fearlessly and resolutely under his very 

 eyes. 



