Show CATBIRD EATS MANY INSECTS although much damage dona to small fruits and berries bird cannot be termed injurious by H W in the rann and fireside I 1 recall one summer afternoon while hoeing in the garden of having a female catbird fly over tho fence and alight on the ground almost at my feet and pick up the worms and small insects that she could find I 1 honestly believe that she was tha most distressed looking wild bird that I 1 had ever seen whether she had been sick or had grown thin by brood ing the eggs too long I 1 know not but it hardly could have been the latter case unless the nest had been dea polled tor sho did not carry away any food but sh allowed whatever she found I 1 stood still and she acme still clos er and I 1 then noticed an appealing look in her eyes that moved me to pity the poor creature it was real pathetic I 1 stopped my work and let the catbird her gather what food sho needed poor bird for who could tell what trouble had been hera the catbird has rightly been called the northern mockingbird and so it well bo for its size shape and coloring so nearly resemble its more gifted southern cousin that the name well applies having never heard the mockingbird I 1 cannot judge as to musical ability but the catbird while a gifted musician and mimic Is not the polyglot eliat the mocker is dut it anyone doubts the musical ability at the catbird just let him get out early on some may morning and all his dc als will be at rest although the catbird sometimes does considerable harm by destroying small fruits ana berries the bird can not be injurious on the contrary in most parts of the country it does tar more good than harm outride of the small fruits which consist mostly of wild berries in our eastern states the catbird feeds upon |