108 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [1891 



shown in a paper printed in Forest and Stream, Vol. XXVIII, 

 No. 6. The earliest date in spring at which I procured a 

 specimen was March 5th, but toward the middle or close of the 

 same month it becomes more plentiful. About the close of the 

 following month it disappears entirely." 



Merula migratoria (Linn.). American Robin. 



The Robin is one of our most abundant and best known birds, 

 familiar alike to the farmer and to the gunner. The habit of 

 this bird is but partly migratory, but the greater number seem 

 to winter farther south than this climate, becoming plentiful the 

 middle, and sometimes not until the close of February. The 

 following month they are found all over the country, congre- 

 gating in small flocks, which disband as spring advances. In 

 fall, especially in October, flocks are again formed, and the 

 number of birds is greater even than in the spring. As winter 

 approaches there is a steady decrease in these numbers, with a 

 glimpse now and then during the winter, until the spring finds 

 them with us again. 



During the fall migratiou the robin shows a decided partiality 

 for the fruit of the sour-gum tree [Nyssa Sylvatica). This pref- 

 erence it has in common with the " flicker." The nest greatly 

 resembles that of the wood thrush, in that both contain mud in 

 their composition, but owing to the less shy disposition of the 

 robin, its home is often made in close proximity to men. Nests 

 have been observed at places where hundreds of people would 

 pass, in fact at popular resorts, and the bird showed no signs of 

 fear, the nest being situated, however, well up the tree, where it 

 could not be easily disturbed. 



Galeoscoptes carolinensis (Linn.). Catbird. . 



With regard to the name of 'this bird the Latin saying, " No- 

 men est omen," well applies. Owing to the law of priority, the 

 species name '^filivox,'' which aptly describes the bird, must be 

 set aside for that of carolinensis, which virtually means nothing. 

 Being equally common in New York, Maryland and Virginia, 

 the name would have been as descriptive, as it now stands, had 



