no2 Rural School Leaflet 



commence their morning and evening choruses. Unlike many birds, 

 the males and females are frequently alike in coloration, the duller colors 

 of some being due more to age than to sex. 



After mating takes place, both birds join in building the nest, which 

 is placed in a crotch on a horizontal limb or on some projecting ledge 

 about our dwellings. Frequently the same nesting site is retained year 

 after year. The nest is a rather bulky affair, but a marvel of symmetry 

 in the plasterer's art. An outer layer of straw, rags, and paper is neatly 

 hollowed and filled with wet mud. Bill, feet, and breast are used until 

 a perfect bowl is formed. This is lined with finer grasses until the 

 home is complete. Three to five blue eggs are laid, which both birds take 

 turns in incubating. 



Like the young of all our song birds, the robins when first hatched are 

 naked and blind and it is two weeks before they are fully feathered and 

 able to leave the nest. At this time they differ somewhat in color from 

 their parents, for their breasts are much paler and are covered with 

 large round dark spots. In this plumage they are more like other thrushes 

 and show their family characteristics much more plainly than when 

 fully grown. 



After the young birds are able to care for themselves, the parent birds 

 generally start a second brood. It is now that they begin to gain a rather 

 unfortunate reputation because of their fondness for fruit. It has been 

 found, however, that by planting mulberries or some of the native fruits 

 it is often possible to attract the robins from cultivated cherries and 

 berries, and thus protect the fruit in a way that is more satisfactory than 

 by killing the birds. It is doubtless true, however, that in some fruit 

 districts where the natural food supply has been replaced by the much 

 more dependable cultivated fruits, the robins have increased unduly 

 and now do considerable damage; but killing should never be resorted 

 to until competent scientific investigation has been made. 



" Rollicking robin is here again; 

 What does he care for the April rain? 

 Care for it? Glad of it. Doesn't he know 

 That the April rain carries off the snow. 

 And coaxes out leaves to shadow his nest, 

 And washes his pretty red Easter vest, 

 A nd makes the juice of the cherry sweet, 

 For his hungry little robins to eat? 

 ' Ha! ha! ha! ' hear the jolly bird laugh, 

 ' That isn't the best of the stay by half! ' " 



LUCY LARCOM 



