128 
CAT-BIRD. 
any other season, the most perfect imitations have no effect 
whatever on him. 
The Cat-bird will not easily desert its nest. I took two eggs 
from one which was sitting, and in their place put two of the 
Brown Thrush, or Thrasher; and took my stand at a conveni- 
ent distance to see how she would behave. In a minute or two 
the male made his approaches, stooped down and looked earn- 
estly at the strange eggs; then flew off to his mate, who was 
not far distant, with whom he seemed to have some conversa- 
tion, and instantly returning, with the greatest gentleness took 
out both the Thrasher’s eggs, first one and then the other, 
carried them singly about thirty yards, and dropt them among 
the bushes. I then returned the two eggs I had taken, and soon 
after the female resumed her place on the nest as before. 
From the nest of another Cat-bird I took two half fledged 
young, and placed them in that of another which was sitting on 
five eggs. She soon turned them both out. The place where the 
nest was, not being far from the ground, they were little injured, 
and the male observing their helpless situation, began to feed 
them with great assiduity and tenderness. 
I removed the nest of a Cat-bird, which contained four eggs, 
nearly hatched, from a fox grape vine, and fixed it firmly and 
carefully in a thicket of briars close by, without injuring its 
contents. In less than half an hour I returned, and found it again 
occupied by the female. 
The Cat-bird is one of our earliest morning songsters, begin- 
ning generally before break of day, and hovering from bush to 
bush, with great sprightliness, when there is scarce light sufficient 
to distinguish him. His notes are more remarkable for singularity 
than for melody. They consist of short imitations of other birds, 
and other sounds; but his pipe being rather deficient in clearness 
and strength of tone, his imitations fail where these are requi- 
site. Yet he is not easily discouraged, but seems to study certain 
passages with great perseverance; uttering them at first low, 
and as he succeeds, higher and more free; no ways embarrassed 
by the presence of a spectator even within a few yards of him. 
