146 
OUR HOME BIRDS. 
when there is scarcely light enough to see him. His 
notes are more singular than musical, consisting 
chiefly of short imitations of other birds and various 
sounds ; and they are not always good imitations, as 
his tones are deficient in clearness and strength. He 
perseveres, however, in trying, and even seems to 
study certain passages like a human performer, be- 
ginning low, and then, as he succeeds better, going 
higher and higher. The presence of a listener with- 
in a few yards of him does not embarrass him in the 
least. • 
“ Although an amiable and comparatively inoffen- 
sive bird, he is not at all popular, for no other rea- 
son, it would seem, than that it is the fashion to dis- 
like him. People will say that ‘ they hate cat-birds/ 
and their nests and young are considered the lawful 
prey of destructive boys. It has been suggested, as 
a reason for this dislike, that there is too much simi- 
larity of tastes between the cat-bird and the farmer. 
‘The cat-bird is fond of large ripe, garden straw- 
berries ; so is the farmer for the good price they 
bring in market: the cat-bird loves the best and 
richest early cherries ; so does the farmer, for they 
are sometimes the most profitable of his early fruit : 
the cat-bird has a particular partiality for the finest 
ripe, mellow pears; and these are also particular 
favorites with the farmer. But the cat-bird has 
