He says they bite the strawberries and grapes and things, even when he is looking at them," said Dodo.
"There is some truth in what Roger says," replied the Doctor, "but on the other hand, the Catbird, besides being a merry garden neighbor and musician, which in itself is enough to pay his rent, belongs as a citizen to the Tree Trappers and Ground Gleaners, and is also a great sower of wild fruits.

Though he does provoke us at times by taking a bite from the largest berries in the bed, yet he really prefers wild fruits if he can find them.

So it is better for us to protect our grape arbors and strawberry beds with nets and bits of bright tin strung on twine to frighten him away from them, than to lose him as a friend and insect destroyer.
"Surely his song is worth a few handfuls of cherries.

Then he is such a quick-witted, sympathetic bird, always willing to help his neighbors when they have trouble with Crows or squirrels.

And when half a dozen pairs of Catbirds choose the garden for their home, you may be sure that they will furnish fun as well as music." "Why does he jerk his tail so ?" asked Dodo.
"It is a trick that all the family have," said the Doctor, "from which some of them are supposed to have taken the name of Thrasher, but that is doubtful.