CAT-BIRD. 
333 
to inhabit Kamtschatka, and consequently penetrate very 
far to the north. Throughout this extent, and to the 
territory of the Mississippi, they likewise pass the period 
of incubation and rearing their young. They remain in 
New England till about the middle of October, at which 
time the young feed principally upon wild berries. 
The Cat-bird often tunes his cheerful song before the 
break of day, hopping from bush to bush, with great 
agility after his insect prey, while yet scarcely distin- 
guishable amidst the dusky shadows of the dawn. The 
notes of different individuals vary considerably, so that 
sometimes his song, in sweetness and compass, is scarce- 
ly at all inferior to that of the Ferruginous Thrush. A 
quaintness, however, prevails in all his efforts, and his 
song is frequently made up of short and blended imita- 
tions of other birds, given, however, with great emphasis, 
melody, and variety of tone ; and, like the Nightingale, 
invading the hours of repose, in the late twilight of a 
summer’s evening, when scarce another note is heard, 
but the hum of the drowsy beetle, his music attains its 
full effect, and often rises and falls with all the swell and 
studied cadence of finished harmony. During the heat 
of the day, or late in the morning, the variety of his song 
declines, or he pursues his employment in silence and 
retirement. 
About the 25th of May, one of these familiar birds 
came into the Botanic Garden, and took up his suriimer 
abode with us. Soon after his arrival he called up in low 
whisperings the notes of the Whip-poor-will , the Red Bird, 
the petopeto of the Tufted Titmouse, and other imitations 
of southern birds, which he had collected on his leisure- 
ly route from the south. He also soon mocked the 
’ tshe-yah ’ tslie-yah of the little Acadian Flycatchers, with 
which the neighbourhood now abounded. He frequent- 
