242 CA T BIRD. 



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 

 neighbour 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 what- 

 ever 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. In a 

 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 

 dropt 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 assiduity and tenderness. 



