139 
THE CANADIAN MOCKING-BIRD 
This most versatile, and perhaps most musical, of all 
our feathered singers is enjoying the inspiration of 
the season and contributing to the melody of the 
lengthening evenings. His sombre coat of slaty grey, 
darker on the head and tail, lends aid to his naturally 
secluded habits, for he likes to move about among the 
low thickets, where his disappearing form may some- 
times be mistaken for a Robin. The under tail covert 
of chestnut or dark red is a distinguishing mark 
which sometimes aids identification. But the Catbird, 
as he is more familiarly called, is generally recognised 
by his varied accomplishments. The decided, 
colloquial mew, as of a vagrant cat, coming from the 
Alder, Dogwood, and Hazel bushes, is often the first 
intimation of his presence. He does not long adhere 
to the disquieting feline sounds, but breaks out into 
an answering melody, sweet, clear, and of wonderful 
compass. The shrillest trebles alternate so quickly 
with the richest altos in the bird register that a 
listener is easily deluded into fancying that two birds 
are singing together. Then the cat mews again, and 
the singing seems scarcely interrupted. 
Throughout the entire day the thickets are en- 
livened by an occasional strain from the hidden 
singer, but as evening advances and the sunlight 
