THE CAT BIRD.

Tue Cat Bird is well-known in nearly
every part of the United States. It is
about nine inches in length, of a dark
slate color, paler beneath ; the crown and
tail are usually black. The Cat Bird often
tunes his quaint but cheerful song before
the break of day, hopping from bush to
bush with great quickness, after his in-
sect prey, while it is scarcely to be seen
by other birds. This bird is commonly
known by the cat-like notes it occasion-
ally gives out, but it can imitate many
other songsters, and sometimes sings
equal to the thrush. But in all its me-

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