iG 
158 CAT BIRD. 
myself with imitating the vivlent chirping or squeaking of yourg. 
birds, in order to observe what different species were around me ; oe 
such sounds, at such a season, in the woods, are no less alarmnirf' to! 
the feathered tenants of the bushes, than the cry of fire or murdé in® 
the streets is to the inhabitants of a large‘and populous city. On “ch + 
occasions of alarm and consternation, the Cat Bird is the first to rsidke ‘ 
his appearance, not singly, but sometimes half a dozen at'a pgs2, 
flying from different quarters to the spot. At this time, those wh@raie 
disposed to play with his feelings may almost throw him into fits, his 
emotion and agitation are so great, at the distressful cries of whay?.e ! 
supposes to be his suffering young. Other birds are variously affegtcu ;. ft 
{ 
2 ‘ 
but none show symptoms of such extreme suffering, He hufizs 
backwards and forwards, with hanging wings and open mouth, calling 
out louder and faster, and actually screaming with distress, ti]! hé 
appears hoarse with his exertions. He attempts no offensive means: 
but he bewails — he implores — in the most pathetic terms with wluch 
nature has supplied him, and with an agony of feeling which is tvly 
affecting. Every feathered neighbor within hearing hastens to the a i 
place, to learn the cause of the alarm, peeping about with look: of ; 
consternation and sympathy. But their own powerful parental dutics “a 
and domestic concerns soon oblige each to withdraw. At any other \ 
season, the most perfect imitations have no effect whatever on him. 
The Cat Bird will not easily desert its nest. I took two eggs}froni 
one which was sitting, and in their place put two. of the yon 
Thrush, or Thrasher, and took my stand at a convenient distanc’, « 5 Ge 
see how she would behave. Ina minute or two, the male mac: his oe | 
approaches, stooped down, and looked earnestly at the strange “gys. } 
then flew off to his mate, who was not far distant, with whom ‘h- 
seemed to have some conversation, and instantly returning, with the ' 
greatest gentleness took out both the Thrasher’s eggs, first one and 
then the other, carried them singly about thirty yards, and dropped 
them among the bushes. I then returned the two eggs I had taken, 
and, soon after, the female resumed her place on the nest as before. 
From the nest of another Cat Bird I took two half-fiedged young, 
and placed them. in that of another, which was sitting on five <> :s. t 
She soon turned them both out. The place where the nest wa- ot & 
being far from the ground, they were little injured, and the u. , {i 
observing their helpless situation, began to feed them with greai a-s.- I, 
duity and tenderness. ‘ 
I removed the nest of a Cat Bird, which contained four eggs, nearly | 
hatched, from a fox grape vine, and fixed it firmly and carefully in a | 
thickéet of briers close by, without injuring its contents. In less thrn ae 
half an hour I returned, and found it again occupied by the femal». - 4 
The Cat Bird is one of our earliest morning songsters, begip-u.ag’ 
generally before break of day, and hovering from bush to bush, wire: 
great sprightliness, when there is scarce light sufficient to distinguisu; 
him. His notes are more remarkable for singularity than for melody. 
They consist of short imitations of other birds, and other sounds ; but, 
his pipe being rather deficient in clearness and strength of tone, his 
imitations fail where these are requisite. Yet he is not-easily dis- 
couraged, but seems to study certain passages with great persevgg« 
ance ; uttering them at first low, and, as he succeeds, higher and more 
