OUR FAMILIAR BIRDS. 27 



and the best musician of the grove, fully equal to his 

 famed Southern cousin, the mocking-bird (Mimus poly- 

 glottus). I could call this catbird from any part of the 

 grove or orchard, and set him to singing as if in an 

 ecstasy of delight, but in return for this I must be his 

 servant and do his bidding. 



There is a keen sense of enjoyment — I might say of 

 exalted happiness — in being able to bring free birds of 

 the grove around one, which well repays for the time 

 and patience and hermit-like life necessary to accom- 

 plish it. 



If a cat made its appearance on the grounds, and I 

 was not in sight, the bird would come screaming close 

 to the door, when I would accompany him, he pointing 

 out the cat, which I would drive in no gentle way from 

 its lurking-place ; other birds clamored about me, chas- 

 ing the intruder, but he was the only one that returned 

 with me to the house, where he expressed the most 

 decided satisfaction. Several times, just as it was grow- 

 ing light, the wily cat- was prowling about, and the bird 

 would call me from my bed with his cries ; hastily 

 throwing on a water-proof cloak, I always went to the 

 rescue, and often drove the robber through the wet 

 orchard out across the street, the bird always accom- 

 panying and returning with me. The female was con- 

 fiding and gentle, but not so intelligent as the male. 



The second nest of this pair was built in a cedar-tree 

 back of the house, within a few feet of the dense shrub- 

 bery before mentioned. The birds were three or four 



