CAT BIRD. 
101 
leaves and weeds, small twig's, and fine dry grass ; the 
inside is lined with the fine black fibrous roots of some 
plant. The female lays four, sometimes five eggs, of a 
uniform greenish blue colour, without any spots. They 
generally raise two, and sometimes three brood in a 
season. 
In passing through the woods in- summer, I have 
sometimes amused myself with imitating the violent 
chirping or squeaking of young birds, in order to 
observe what different species were around me, — for 
such sounds, at such a season, in the woods, are no less 
alarming to the feathered tenants of the bushes, than 
the cry of fire or murder in the streets is to the inha- 
bitants of a large and populous city. On such occasions 
of alarm and consternation, the cat bird is the first to 
make his appearance, not singly, but sometimes half a 
dozen at a time, flying from different quarters to the 
spot. At this time, those who are disposed to play with 
his feelings may almost throw him into fits, his emotion 
and agitation are so great, at the distressful cries of what 
he supposes to be his suffering young. Other birds are 
variously affected ; but none shew symptoms of such 
extreme suffering. He hurries backwards and forwards, 
with hanging wings and open mouth, calling out louder 
and faster, and actually screaming with distress, till he 
appears hoarse with his exertions. He attempts no 
offensive means ; but he bewails — he implores — in the 
most pathetic terms with which nature has supplied 
him, and with an agony of feeling which is truly affect- 
ing. Every feathered neighbour within hearing hastens 
to the place, to learn the cause of the alarm, peeping 
about with looks of consternation and sympathy. But 
their own powerful parental duties and domestic con- 
cerns soon oblige each to withdraw. At any other 
season, the most perfect imitations have no effect what- 
ever 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 convenient distance, to see how she would 
