158 CAT BIRD. 
myself with imitating the violent chirping or squeaking of young 
birds, in order to observe what different species were around me ; for 
such sounds, at such a season, in the woods, are no less alarming to 
the feathered tenants of the bushes, than the cry of fire or murder in 
the streets is to the inhabitants of a large and populous city. On such 
occasions of alarm and consternation, the Cat Bird is the first to make 
his appearance, not singly, but sometimes half a dozen at a time, 
flying from different quarters to the spot. At this time, those who are 
disposed to play with his feelings may almost throw him into fits, his 
emotion and agitation are so great, at the distressful cries of what he 
supposes to be his suffering young. Other birds are variously affected ; 
but none show symptoms of such extreme suffering. He hurries 
backwards and forwards, with hanging wings and open mouth, calling 
out louder and faster, and actually screaming with distress, till he 
appears hoarse with his exertions. He attempts no offensive means ; 
but he bewails — he implores — in the most pathetic terms with which 
nature has supplied him, and with an agony of feeling which is truly 
affecting. Every feathered neighbor within hearing hastens to the 
place, to learn the cause of the alarm, peeping about with looks of 
consternation and sympathy. But their own powerful parental duties 
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 from 
one which was sitting, and in their place put two of the Brown 
Thrush, or Thrasher, and took my stand at a convenient distance, to 
see how she would behave. Ina minute or two, the male made his 
approaches, stooped down, and looked earnestly at the strange eggs, 
then flew off to his mate, who was not far distant, with whom he 
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-fledged young, 
and placed them in that of another, which was sitting on five eggs. 
She soon turned them both out. The place where the nest was not 
being far from the ground, they were little injured, and the male, 
observing their helpless situation, began to feed them with great assi- 
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 
thicket of briers close by, without injuring its contents. In less than 
half an hour I returned, and found it again occupied by the female. 
The Cat Bird is one of our earliest morning songsters, beginaing 
generally before break of day, and hovering from bush to bush, with 
great sprightliness; when there is scarce light sufficient to distinguish 
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 persever- 
ance ; uttering them at first low, and, as he succeeds, higher and more 
