Tke Sieging- of Birds. H. P.BiekneU. 



Mimus carolinensis. Catbird. 



The Catbird sings from its arrival — late April or early Ma}' — 

 through July, but with decreasing regularity towards the end of 

 the month ; and in one or two years I have not heard it later. 

 Usually singing is abandoned shortly after the beginning of 

 August, but sometimes individuals continue in song quite to the 

 middle of the month. 



Though the species remains well into October, and is some- 

 times to be numbered among the loiterers of the following month, 

 during all this time no music escapes it. Careless and extrava- 

 gant with his powers when they are in easy possession, this tal- 

 ented musician has lost them at a time when they would be most 

 appreciated, and naturally less capable performers succeed it. 



Besides its song, and the well-known call-note that has con- 

 ferred its name, the Catbird has another characteristic vocal 

 accomplishment — a short, sharp, crackling sound, like the 

 snapping of small fagots. This is not often heard before the 

 dog-days, but in late summer is sometimes frequent. Usually it 

 is an accompaniment of rapid action as the bird seeks the security 

 of some bushy patch or darts into the thick cover along the road. 



ATik, I, April, 1884. p. f3Z. 



SaitK BIRD SONGS. 



BY SIMEON PEASE CHENEY. 



CATBIRD. 4111-. 7iir,j.in, isgi.p^ja. 



With something of the style of the Brown Thrush, the £lafe^l 

 is not his ecjual in song. He is generally considered a mocking- 

 bird, and does make use of the notes of difl'erent birds, delivering 

 them in snatchy, disconnected fashion. It is easy to trace in the 

 Catbird's singing the notes of the Red-eyed Vireo, the Brown 

 Thrasher, Bluebird, Robin, and Yellow-breasted Chat. llis 

 performance on the whole is very interesting, given, as it is, in a 

 lively manner, with an occasional tone truly sweet and musical. 

 Much of his singing, however, is mere twitter, often little more 

 than a succession of squeaks, too antic to be put on paper. 



