Bird Study 59 



5. Where is the mud obtained and how carried to the nest? 



6. How is the nest lined? 



Series c (To be given a week after series d). i. What is the number 

 and color of the eggs in the nest? 



2. Do both parents do the sitting? Which sits on the nest during 

 the night? 



3. Give the date when the first nestling hatches. 



4. How does the young robin look? The color and size of its beak? 

 Why is its beak so large? Can it see? Is it covered with down ? Com- 

 pare it to a young chick and describe the difference between the two. 



5. What does the young robin do if it feels any jar against the nest? 

 Why does it do this ? 



6. Do the young robins make any noise? 



7. What do the parents feed their young? Do both parents feed 

 them? Are the young fed in turns? 



8. Does each pair of robins have a certain territory for hunting 

 worms which is not trespassed upon by other robins? 



Series f (To be given three days after series e). i . How long after 

 hatching before the young robin's eyes are open? Can you see where the 

 feathers are going to grow? How do the young feathers look? 



2. How long after hatching before the young birds are covered with 

 feathers? 



3. Do their wing or tail feathers come first? 



4. How is the nest kept clean? 



5. Give the date when the young robins leave the nest? How do 

 the old robins act at this important crisis? 



6. Describe the young robin's flight? Why is it so unsteady? 



7. How do the young robins differ in colors of breast from the 

 parents? 



8. Do the parents stay with the young for a time? What care do 

 they give them? 



9. If the parents raise a second brood do they use the same nest? 



Series g (To be given for summer reading and observations), i. 

 Do the robins sing all summer? Why? 



2. Do the robins take your berries and cherries? How can you 

 prevent them from doing this? 



3. How does the robin help us? 



4. How long does it stay with us in the fall? 



5. What are the chief enemies of the robin and how does it fight or 

 escape them? How can we help protect it? 



6. Do you think the same robins come back to us each year? 

 Supplementary reading Nestlings of Forest and Marsh, Wheelock 



p. 62; Our Birds and their Nestlings, Walker, pp. 26, 37, 41, 42; 

 True Bird Stories, Miller, pp. 37, 138; The Bird Book, Eckstrom, p. 

 248; Familiar W T ild Animals, Lottridge; The History of the Robins, 

 Trimmer; Field Book of Wild Birds and their Music, Mathews, p. 246; 

 Birds in Their Relation to Man, Weed and Dearborn, p. 90; Songs of 

 Nature, Burroughs, p. 94; Wake Robin, Burroughs; Audubon 

 Leaflet No. 4. 



