SONG-BIRDS Catbixd
joining field, that it develops its best qualities,—“ lets itself out,” so to speak. The Catbirds in the garden are so tame that they will frequently perch on the edge of the hammock in which I am sitting, and when I move they only hop away a few feet with a little flutter. The male is undoubtedly a mimic, when he so desires, but he has an individual and most delightful song, filled with unexpected turns and buoyant melody. The length of the song varies greatly, sometimes lasting almost uninterruptedly for an hour. One strain is used as an introduction and as a constant refrain, Prut! Prut! coquillicot! The ejaculation “prut! prut!” turns into the shrill “ zeay ! zeay l ” when he is really alarmed or angry.
His song is only second, in its colloquial variety, to that of the Brown Thrasher, and it is sometimes for a moment difficult to distinguish between the two. He is particularly successful in imitating the whistle of the Chat (itself a mimic and ventriloquist), and has several times lured me by it, through bushes and briars, only to mock at me and call, “ Hey Victory,” in my face.
That the Catbird is a fruit thief, its best friend cannot deny; but during the breeding-season it feeds largely upon insects, and particularly upon many highly injurious kinds then in the moth stage; seizing them adroitly in the air and When near the ground, after the manner of Flycatchers.
I kept a Catbird (that had fallen from the nest) in a cage for many months, and became greatly attached to him. He was perfectly fearless and would fly about the room freely, and run about the floor with the rapidity of a mouse. Frequently he would perch on my head, or flit up and dexter- ously knock the ashes ofi O—’s cigar to attract his atten- tion. He had a great dislike of newspapers, and if 0—— tried to read, when he was at liberty, he would invariany perch on the top of the sheet, thus bending it over and. stopping the proceedings, and then utter a triumphant “Zeay, Zea-y!”
It seems strange that there should be any difference of
opinion about this merry, friendly bird. Mr. George H. 79
