The CAT BIRD (_Galeoscoptes Carolinensis_) is almost entirely slate-grey,
which is darkest on the back and lightest on the under side; the top
of the head is brownish black, the throat light grey, and the lower
wing-covers rust-red. Its length is nine inches, the wing four inches,
and the tail four inches and three lines. The best account of this bird
has been given by Wilson, who has described it at great length.
"The Cat Bird," says that graphic writer, "is very common in the United
States, and arrives in the lower parts of Georgia from the south about
the twenty-eighth of February, and probably winters in Florida. About
the beginning of May he has already succeeded in building his nest.
The place chosen for this purpose is generally a thicket of briars or
brambles, a thorn bush, thick vine, or the fork of a small sapling;
no great solicitude is shown for concealment, though few birds appear
more interested for the safety of their nests and young. The materials
employed are dry leaves, or weeds, small twigs, or fine dry grass; the
interior is lined with fine black fibrous roots. The female lays four,
sometimes five eggs, of an uniform greenish blue colour, without any
spots. Two, and occasionally three broods, are raised in the year.
[Illustration: THE CAT BIRD (_Galeoscoptes Carolinensis_).]
"The manners of this species are lively, and at intervals border on the
grotesque. It is extremely sensitive, and will follow an intruder to a
considerable distance, wailing and mewing as it passes from one tree to
another, its tail now jerked and thrown from side to side, its wings
drooping, and its breast deeply inclined. On such occasions it would fain
peck at your hand; but these exhibitions of irritated feeling seldom take
place after the young have sufficiently grown to take care of themselves.
In some instances I have known this bird at once to recognise its friend
from its foe, and to suffer the former even to handle the treasure
deposited in its nest with all the marked assurance of the knowledge
it possessed of its safety; while, on the contrary, the latter had to
bear all its anger. The sight of a dog seldom irritates it, but a single
glance at the wily cat excites the most painful paroxysms of alarm. It
never neglects to attack a snake with fury, though it often happens that
it becomes the sufferer for its temerity.
"The Cat Bird," continues the same author, "is one of our earliest
morning songsters, beginning 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 qualities are
requisite. 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 freely, nowise embarrassed by the presence of
a spectator even within a few yards of him. On attentively listening for
some time, one can perceive considerable variety in his performance, in
which he seems to introduce all the odd sounds and quaint passages he has
been able to collect. Upon the whole, though we cannot arrange him with
the grand leaders of our vernal choristers, he well merits a place among
the most agreeable general performers.
"In spring or summer, on approaching a thicket of brambles, the first
salutation you receive is from the Cat Bird; and a stranger, unacquainted
with its note, would conclude that some vagrant orphan kitten had got
bewildered in the briars, and wanted assistance, so exactly does the call
of the bird sometimes resemble the voice of that animal.
"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 inhabitants 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 show
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 affecting. 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
duties and domestic concerns soon oblige each to withdraw. At any other
season the most perfect imitations have no effect whatever on him."
* * * * *
The BABBLERS, or NOISY THRUSHES (_Timaliæ_), constitute a very numerous
race, inhabiting Africa, Southern Asia, and other portions of the eastern
hemisphere. The members of this family are in many respects nearly allied
to the birds above described, but are recognisable by their compact body,
short, rounded wings, in which the fourth or fifth quill is the longest;
a moderate-sized, broad-feathered, and more or less rounded tail,
powerful foot, and comparatively strong, compressed beak, slightly bent
at the tip of the upper mandible. The plumage is unusually lax, and of a
dusky hue.
These birds frequent tracts of brushwood or underwood in extensive
forests or cane districts, and subsist upon the insects, snails, worms,
fruits, and berries that abound in their favourite localities. All are
active, restless, and social in their habits, although they rarely
assemble in large flocks, and are invariably extremely noisy. Only a few
possess good voices. Their powers of flight are by no means great, and
rarely enable them to rise as high as the summits of the trees; but they
exhibit remarkable agility in skipping in and out amidst the densest
foliage.