244 
THE CAT- BIRD. 
sweet undulations of our various woodland choristers, delivered with apparent caution and 
with all the attention and softness necessary to enable the performer to please the ear of its 
mate. Each cadence passes on without faltering, and if you are acquainted with the songs 
of the birds he so sweetly imitates, you are sure to recognize the manner of the different 
species.” 
The Cat-Bird (Grolsoscoptcs cQjT oHtigti s i s ) is one of the most common of native American 
birds, but is singularly shy, or retiring. It is known to all the countryside by its peculiar 
notes. Both sexes have the habit, besides the usual note, which is like that of the thrushes, 
of producing notes like those of a cat in mewing. It is one of the first spring visitors. Like 
the robin, it is fond of human society. It breeds in the Northern States. To a certain extent 
the Cat-Bird is a mocker. It is particularly abundant in Central Park. We have heard 
several uttering hoarse, cracked sounds, as if trying to imitate some extraordinary voices. 
Wilson, whose kindly feelings are always on the side of our birds, thus defends the 
Cat-Bird : — 
“ With all his amiable qualities, few people in the country respect the Cat-Bird. On the 
contrary, it is generally an object of dislike, and the boys of the United States entertain the 
same prejudice and contempt for the bird, its nest and young, as those of Britain do for the 
Yellow Hammer. * * * But with the generous and the good, the lovers of nature and 
of rural charms, the confidence which this familiar bird places in man, by building in his 
garden under his eye, the music of his song, and the interesting playfulness of his manners, 
will always be more than a recompense for all the little stolen morsels he has taken.” 
It is a most lively and withal petulant bird in a wild state, performing the most grotesque 
manoeuvres, and being so filled with curiosity that it follows any strange being through the 
woods as if irresistibly attracted by some magnetic charm. In its disposition the Cat-Bird 
appears to be one of the most sensitively affectionate birds on the face of the earth, as will 
appear from the following interesting account of a pet Cat-Bird, called General Bern : — 
“ Well, General Bern went home with us at once, and was immediately given his liberty, 
which he made use of by peering into every closet, examining and dragging everything from 
its proper place, which he could manage, pecking and squalling, dashing hither and thither, 
until at night he quietly went into his cage as if he was nearly or quite positive that he must 
commence a new career on the morrow ; it was evident that he had to begin the world over 
again, yet, as he was not superannuated, and was, withal, ambitious, his case was still not a 
desperate one, although we had assured him most positively that we would not fall in love 
with him — we had only invited him there to help us pass the time. 
“Bern looked wise at the assertion, but said nothing. The next morning we gave him 
water for a bath, which he immediately used, and then sprang upon my head, very much to 
my surprise ; then he darted to the window, then back to my head, screaming all the time 
most vociferously, until finally I went to the window, for peace’ sake, and stood in the sun- 
shine, while Bern composedly dressed his feathers, standing on my head first on one foot, then 
on the other, evidently using my scalp as a sort of foot-stone, and my head as a movable 
pedestal for his impudent generalship to perch on when he felt disposed to be comfortably 
elevated ; and had clearly come to the conclusion — as I was so fond of transporting him from 
his native land — that I should serve as a convenient craft to bear him where his moods com- 
manded. 
“ In a word, he had determined to turn tyrant ; if I had had the deliberate purpose of using 
him as a mere toy, he had at least the coolness to make me available, and from that time I 
became the victim of the most unequalled tyranny. Bid I neglect his morning bath beyond 
the instant, my ears were assailed with screams and cries, till I was forced to my duty ; I must 
bear him into the sunshine, or my hair was pulled ; I must bring him his breakfast, or he 
pecked my cheek and lips ; in fine, I was compelled to become his constant attendant, while in 
the meantime he most diligently assailed my heart by endearing confidences. He would sit 
