42 CAT-BIRD. 



witnessed, the Cat-bird was actually the assailant, and always the suc- 

 cessful one. These rencontres never take place but during the breeding 

 time of birds ; for whose eggs and young the snake has a particular 

 partiality. It is no wonder that those species whose nests are usually 

 built near the ground, should be the greatest sufferers, and the most 

 solicitous for their safety ; hence the cause why the Cat-bird makes 

 such a distinguished figure in most of these marvellous narrations. 

 That a poisonous snake will strike a bird or mouse, and allow it to 

 remain till nearly expiring before he begins to devour it, our observa- 

 tions on the living rattlesnake kept by Mr. Peale, satisfy us is a fact ; 

 but that the same snake, with eyes, breath, or any other known quality 

 he possesses, should be capable of drawing a bird, reluctantly, from the 

 tree tops to its mouth, is an absurdity too great for me to swallow. 



I am led to these observations by a note which I received this morn- 

 ing from my worthy friend Mr. Bartram. "Yesterday," says this 

 gentleman, " I observed a conflict, or contest, between a Cat-bird and a 

 snake. It took place in a gravel walk, in the garden, near a dry wall 

 of stone. I was within a few yards of the combatants. The bird 

 pounced or darted upon the snake, snapping his bill ; the snake would 

 then draw himself quickly into a coil, ready for a blow ; but the bird 

 would cautiously circumvent him at a little distance, now and then run- 

 ning up to and snapping at him ; but keeping at a suflicient distance to 

 avoid a blow. After some minutes it became a running fight, the snake 

 retreating; and at last took shelter in the wall. The Cat-bird had 

 young ones in the bushes near the field of battle. 



" This may show the possibility of poisonous snakes biting birds, the 

 operation of the poison causing them to become as it were fascinated." 



