The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-09
THE TUNEFUL CATBIRD.
A Versatile Singer and a Good Mimic, Who
Thinks lie CutclaSses the Violin.

A versatile Singer and Goop Mimic, Who
Thinks He Cutclasses the Violin.
The most constant OF our feathered
summer boarders is the catbird. He
comes to US early in April and begins
singing as soon as he has chosen his
summer apartment. This year he and
his quiet little wife selected their home
in the midst of the English ivy that
my cham her window-a pleasant
choice for all parties concerned.
After a f>w days, spent principally
IN the branches of neighboring cherry
tree-for our friends have but scanty
notions regarding the difference be-
tween mine and thine, and at cherry
time cast even these few dim ideas to
the wind-another egg is laid beside
its brother, and so it goes on until there
are four small blush eggs safely hid
den under the ivy leaves awaiting the
warm pressure of the mothers breast.
Then Nine. Catbird's sport Is over.
1t seems to me the catbird has never
been sufficiently praised. This is
probabl partly his own fault, and due
to particularly harsh note which he
utters when startled or angry-a graf
ing ''miau," much like the mewing of
eat with case of chronic catarrh-
and from this discordant cry the sweet
singer has earned his name But this
is only his war cry or note of warning,
uttered to bid his mate be wary of
some enemy prowling near. The dan
ger past his real song begins, and
splendid one it is, for he belongs to the
family of thrushes and has their gift
Of mimicry. There is little Italian
in our home. a wonderful little body,
who, being forever busy, is constantly
in demand, and many times day the
cry is raised for her: 'Cherubina!
Cheru bina.' Our friend in the ivy has
heard our call; it pleased him not a
little. Perhaps there was something
about the soft. musical infection
of the Italian name that reminded him
of the blue skies and tropical vegeta-
ton of the southern land in which he
spends half the year; so he set himself
to master its intricacies. and. To- one
morning the whistle came clear and
pure "Cheru bina - Cherubina." with
the true Latin infection on the penul-
timate. SO it is with everything. He
is eager to learn new songs and strug-
giles manfully TO master the pipipgs of
all his feathered neighbors. To do
him justice, he succeeds remarkably
well; in fact there is but one call that
escapes him altogether the whistle of
the quail. He can not say Bob
White
The other day he discovered a new
field for his labors when from within
the house rose the high, pure notes of
the violin. He stopped singing at once.
cooked his head, and listened eagerly.
Clearly this was a new experience
to him, and it was evident that he
could not understand how any bird
could sing SO long without stopping to
take breath. He himself prefers to
whistle few bars, stop and look bout
a bit while he trims his feathers, and
then begin again. But this audacious
and iong-winded creature kept on with
trills, scales, and arpeggios following
each other in quick succession. with
never a breathing space between. At
last the gentleman in gray quite lost
patience. Was he q professional singer.
to be rivaled thus? So ne dashed ruth
lessly into the performance. turning
the solo into a most remarkable duet,
and although he doubtless violated
every known and many unknown ru.es
of harmony the result was decidedly
pleasing. Then Suddenly the unknown
songster within the doors closed with
a flourish, ''Ha. ha,~ said our gray
friend. Il thought should tire you out
eventually" And with last triurn-
phant note he few away TO orecount his
exciting experience 10 his mate.-Kate
Fields Washington.