For Young Observers
Oliver Twist, Catbird
BY ISABELLA McC. LEMMON
ON July 9, 1898, we caught a young Catbird. He had left the nest the day before, and had then eluded all our efforts, but by morning a pouring rain had removed his objections to captivity, and a very wet, bedraggled little Catbird was established in the big cage. He soon stopped trying to get out, and seemed quite contented — except occasionally when the old birds heard him calling for food and came to the rescue. But that was carefully guarded against, and as his voice lost its baby tone they left him in peace. A name was quickly given, the frequency and great size of his meals promptly gaining for him the title of 'Oliver Twist.' Worms, currants, goose-, rasp-, black-, and huckleberrries, bits of bread soaked in milk, all went down, but the fruit seemed somewhat more acceptable. On July 16, the amount of food was greatest : 43 earth- worms and 81 berries between 7 a. m. and 6.50 p. m. As the different berries ripened he gave up the early kinds and accepted the new ones most eagerly, elderberries especially. These last he ate by the bunch — indeed one need only walk past a patch of the bushes when the fruit is ripe, to appreciate a Catbird's fond- ness for them. By the i6th Oliver had taken his first bath, and for the first time I saw him drink. Four days later, when he must have been about four weeks old, we heard him trying to sing — queer little chirps and gurgles in the lowest of tones, but evidently intended for a song. He stopped as soon as he saw me, raising his wings and begging for food, and for some time we were obliged to enjoy his musical efforts by stealth. By August I, he was pretty well feathered ; the tail was almost full length, and even the little feathers over the nostrils had started to grow. He was also able to feed himself then, but greatly pre- ferred being fed ; often, when I offered him more than he wanted, giving a low 'chuck' very like the old birds' call. As August progressed worms were refused, and though bread and milk and all sorts of berries were eaten, the bird evidently missed
something. He was molting a little — if the loss of so few feathers
163
