SUMMER BIRDS OF SHAW'S GARDEN. 75 



and falling in rythmic flow, softly dying away only to swell 

 again to a powerful ring. It is chiefly a ground feeder and 

 sings from the lower branches of a tree, where it also builds 

 its nest, which may be recognized by being saddled with loose 

 material hanging down its sides. Sometimes experiments 

 with novel building material, such as musHn, paper and 

 poultry feathers, are made, but, if used in large quantities, 

 much to the detriment of the structure, which can not stand 

 hard rains as does the old style nest. 



AMERICAN ROBIN. McTula migratoria. 



During eight months of the year, from the beginning of March 

 to the end of October, the well-known Robin greets the visi- 

 tors to Shaw's Garden either with its peculiar call-note or 

 with its loud song. Several weeks before spring really sets in, 

 this cheering music of less than half a dozen bars, often the 

 only bird notes within hearing, rouses the yet drowsy Nature 

 and announces the approach of another season of warmth, 

 beauty and delight. Throughout March and to the middle 

 of April whole flocks of migrating Robins are sometimes found 

 scattered over the several parts of the Garden and pasture, 

 hopping and running about or resting on trees, calling lustily 

 to each other, and once in a while off"ering a song. Our own 

 Robins are by this time mated and are building, or, if the 

 weather has not been bad, are already sitting on eggs, while 

 these north-bound guests are still hundreds of miles away 

 from their summer home in the Canadian wilds. At the end 

 of July, when the young are grown, many of the breeding 

 places of the Robin are deserted, but not so Shaw's Garden, 

 which has attraction enough in its plentiful and varied supply 

 of wild fruit to retain its Robins through autumn, but we 

 have to look for them in the Wild Cherry, Magnolia and Sassa- 

 fras trees, in the Wild Grapes, Virginia Creeper and Green- 

 briers, in the Dogwood, Elder and Poke bushes, and at last 

 under the Hackbcrry and Persimmon trees. During Septem- 

 ber whole troops are sometimes present, and their song which 

 has hardly ever been heard since the middle of July is in the 

 air again, fine old birds in the daikest colors, almost black on 



