Revised by ERNEST I NGERSOL.L. one of two kinds of birds.
(1) In North America a familiar songster (Galeoscoptes carolinensis), so-called because of its mewing call-note, which is strikingly similar to the plaint of a kitten in distress. This, however, is not its only note, its wild and melodious warbling in the morning and the evening being alsd typical of the musical thrush family to which it belongs. It is about nine inches long, and of a dark slate color, with a black cap, and a reddish patch under the tail. It is migratory only in the Northern States, spends its winters in the South, and frequents bushy pastures and gardens, being one of the few species which follow the course of agri culture, and being rarely found far from the habitations of the farmer. It is of great service to the agriculturist in devouring wasps, grubs, worms and insects, which, with fruits and berries of all kinds, especially of sumach, sweet gum and poke, constitute its food. It has a brilliant and varied song, in which it seems to mimic the notes of other birds; when in a domestic state it will imitate strains of instru mental music. The nest, generally built in bramble thickets, is large, and constructed of twigs and briers mixed with leaves, weeds and grass, lined with dark fibrous roots arranged in a circular manner. Its eggs, from four to six
in number, are of a greenish-blue color, without spots. Its attachment to its young is remark able, and it will often feed and raise the young of other birds. It migrates during the night. It frequently attacks the common blacksnake, which, in the absence of the bird, rifles its nest.
(2) In Australia, one of the bower-birds ( zEluradus viridis), so named because of its cat-like call.
a boat having one mast stepped just abaft the bow and carrying a sail laced to a boom and gaff, resembling a schooner's mainsail. In general catboats are very broad in beam, averaging 1:3. They are usually equipped with a center-board, which, with the extreme forward position of the mast, enables them to point high into the wind, and makes them remarkably quick in stays. They are principally employed as pleasure craft on the coasts and inland navigable waters of the United States, and are consequently of shallow draft.