How to Tell the Birds from the Flowers and Other Woodcuts · Chapter
The Cat‑bird; The Cat‑nip explained
This chapter humorously compares the Cat‑bird's call to that of a cat and describes Cat‑nip's effect on cats, using wordplay to highlight the absurdity of the names.
What happens
This chapter humorously compares the Cat‑bird's call to that of a cat and describes Cat‑nip's effect on cats, using wordplay to highlight the absurdity of the names.
Themes in this chapter
Wordplay and Homophones
The chapter plays on the similarity between 'cat' in Cat‑bird and Cat‑nip, and the pun 'cat‑nip‑tion fits' for 'catnip fits'.
Humor and Absurdity
The absurd comparison of a bird's call to a cat and the personification of cat‑nip not caterwauling adds a humorous tone.
Characters to notice
- the Birds
The Cat‑bird is referenced as a type of bird whose call mimics a cat.
Key passages
“The Cat‑bird’s call resembles that Emitted by the Pussy Cat”
The Cat‑bird makes a sound similar to a cat's meow.
Direct comparison of bird call to cat sound.
“Its odor though attracts the Kits, And throws them in Cat‑nip‑tion fits.”
The smell of cat‑nip attracts kittens and causes them to go into fits.
Describes the effect of cat‑nip on cats with a pun.