CAT-BIRD. 197 



but these exhibitions of irritated feeling seldom take place after the young 

 are sufficiently grown to be able to take care of themselves. In some 

 instances, I have known this bird to recognise at once its friend from its foe, 

 and to suffer the former even to handle the treasure deposited in its nest, 

 with all the marked assurance of the knowledge it possessed of its safety; 

 when, on the contrary, the latter had to bear all its anger. The sight of a 

 dog seldom irritates it, while a single glance at the wily cat excites the most 

 painful paroxysms of alarm. It never neglects to attack a snake with fury, 

 although it oftens happens that it becomes the sufferer for its temerity. 



The vulgar name which this species bears, has probably rendered it more 

 conspicuous than it would otherwise be, and has also served to bring it into 

 some degree of contempt with persons not the best judges of the benefits it 

 confers on the husbandman in early spring, when, with industrious care, it 

 cleanses his fruit-trees of thousands of larvae and insects, which, in a single 

 day, would destroy, while yet in the bud, far more of his fruit than the Cat- 

 bird would eat in a whole season. But alas, selfishness, the usual attendant 

 of ignorance, not only heaps maledictions on the harmless bird, but dooms 

 it to destruction. The boys pelt the poor Thrush with stones, and destroy 

 its nest whenever an opportunity presents; the farmer shoots it to save a 

 pear; and the gardener to save a raspberry; some hate it, not knowing why: 

 in a word, excepting the poor, persecuted crow, I know no bird more gene- 

 rally despised and tormented than this charming songster. 



The attachment which the Cat-bird shews towards its eggs or young is 

 affecting. It even possesses a humanity, or rather a generosity and gentle- 

 ness, worthy of beings more elevated in the scale of nature. It has been 

 known to nurse, feed, and raise the young of other species, for which no 

 room could be afforded in their nests. It will sit on its eggs after the nest 

 has been displaced, or even after it has been carried from one bush to 

 another. 



Like all our other Thrushes, this species is very fond of bathing and roll- 

 ing itself in the dust or sand of the roads or fields. Several are frequently 

 seen together on the borders of small ponds or clear rivulets, immersed up 

 to their body, splashing the water about them until completely wetted; then, 

 ascending to the tops of the nearest bushes, they plume themselves with 

 apparent care, notwithstanding which they are at times so infested with a 

 minute species of louse as to be destroyed by it. This is also the case with 

 the Mocking-bird and the Ferruginous Thrush, many individuals of which I 

 have known to be killed by these parasitic animals. 



Although the Cat-bird is a pleasant songster, it is seldom kept in a cage, 

 and I believe all attempts at breeding it in aviaries have failed. Its food 

 consists of fruits and berries of all descriptions, worms, wasps, and various 



Vol. II. 34 



