42 
CAT-BIRD. > 
■witnessed, the Cat-bird was actually the assailant, and always the suc- 
cessful one. These rencontres never take place but during the breeding 
time of birds ; for whose eggs and young the snake has a particular 
partiality. It is no wonder that those species whose nests are usually 
built near the ground, should be the greatest sufferers, and the most 
solicitous for their safety ; hence the cause why the Cat-bird makes 
such a distinguished figure in most of these marvellous narrations. 
That a poisonous snake will strike a bird or mouse, and allow it to 
remain till nearly expiring before he begins to devour it, our observa- 
tions on the living rattlesnake kept by Mr. Peale, satisfy us is a fact ; 
but that the same snake, with eyes, breath, or any other known quality 
he possesses, should be capable of drawing a bird, reluctantly, from the 
tree tops to its mouth, is an absurdity too great for me to swallow. 
I am led to these observations by a note which I received this morn- 
ing from my worthy friend Mr. Bartram. "Yesterday," says this 
gentleman, " I observed a conflict, or contest, between a Cat-bird and a 
snake. It took place in a gravel walk, in the garden, near a dry wall 
of stone. I was within a few yards of the combatants. The bird 
pounced or darted upon the snake, snapping his bill; the snake would 
then draw himself quickly into a coil, ready for a blow ; but the bird 
would cautiously circumvent him at a little distance, now and then run- 
ning up to and snapping at him ; but keeping at a sufficient distance to 
avoid a blow. After some minutes it became a running fight, the snake 
retreating; and at last took shelter in the wall. The Cat-bird had 
young ones in the bushes near the field of battle. 
" This may show the possibility of poisonous snakes biting birds, the 
operation of the poison causing them to become as it were fascinated." 
