114 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Empidonax minimus — Baird. 



Least Flycatcher. — This little bird is commonly found in 

 the vicinity of the homestead, and often builds its nest in a tree 

 close to the window, seeming to prefer the society of man to the 

 solitude of the forest. It builds a beautiful little home for 

 itself out of cotton, feathers, and bits of string, which it weaves 

 together and fastens firmly in the crotch of some of the upper 

 branches of the tree. The eggs are four in number, creamy- 

 white in color. This bird, as its name implies, feeds upon fly- 

 ing insects. 



Turdus fuscescens — Stephens. 

 Wilson's Thrush. — This bird makes its appearance about the 

 first of May, and may be seen in the deep woods busily search- 

 ing for its food, which, like that of all the thrushes, consists 

 chiefly of insects. The nest is placed in a low shrub, some- 

 times on the ground. It is constructed of grass and leaves, 

 deeply hollowed, and lined with hair and fine roots. Eggs four 

 in number, and of a bluish-green color and oval in shape. 



Turdus migratorius — Linnwus. 

 The Robin. — Every one knows the robin, as it is a common 

 visitor of every State, county and town in the country. Much 

 has been said both in favor of and against this bird, but we do 

 not hesitate to call it, on the whole, beneficial. It cannot be 

 denied that it destroys many small fruits, but as these only last 

 a month or two, and as during the rest of the year this bird is 

 beneficial, it seems to deserve favor. The nest and eggs are 

 so common as to need no description. The nest is found in a 

 variety of situations, having been found in trees, bushes, stone 

 walls, sheds, and on the ground. Two broods are reared in 

 a season. 



Harporhynchus rupus — Cabanis. 



Brown Thrush. — Mr. Samuels says : " Probably none of our 

 summer visitors are better known, and none are greater favor- 

 ites, than this bird. Its beautiful song and well known benefi- 

 cial habits have endeared it to the farmer, who takes it under 

 his protection, as he should all the thrushes, and encourages its 



