THE WESTERN ROBIN. 



247 



materials. Anotlier freak iiest, in Spokane, showed a iiatchet handle firmly 

 imbedded in its foundation and i)n_)jecting from it a distance of six inches. 

 Tlie [tresence of the handle was not ach'entitious. for the nest was saddled on a 

 [line branch, but it is difficult to conceive Imw the liirds cnuld ha\-e j^laced it in 

 position at a height of fifteen feet. 



Three eggs is the rule for the Western Robin; four is not unusual: but 

 five is rare, and I have never seen six. In this respect, therefore, the Western 

 Robin falls a little behind her eastern cousin. 



Young Robins are 

 darling creatures: 

 that is conceded by 

 e\'eryone, — e\'en b\' 

 the cat. And hun- 

 gr_\-! Oh, so hun- 

 gry ! It is estimated 

 that if the appetite 

 of a man were pro- 

 portioned to that of 

 a young Robin, he 

 would consume dailv 

 the equivalent of a 

 sausage four inches 

 in diameter and 

 twelve feet long! 



In spite of the law-makers, who knew exactly what they were doing in 

 declaring the Robin worthy of protection, thousands of these birds are an- 

 nuall}' slaughtered h\ unthinking" peoi)le because i)f a rumc:ired fi;nidness for 

 cherries and other small fruits. And yet we are assured by competent 

 authorities that cultivated fruit forms only four per cent of the Robin's food 

 thruout the }'ear. while injuri(jus insects constitute mure than one-third. 

 Robins in the cherry trees arc provoking, especially when the}- bring the 

 whole family and camp out : but there is one wav to limit their depredations 

 without destroying these most distinguished helpers; ])lant a row of mulberry 

 trees, preferably the Russian Mulberry, along the orchard fence, and the 

 birds will seek no further. I have seen a mulberry tree swarmina' with Roljins, 

 while neighboring fruit trees were almost untouched, 

 humane, and efficacious. 



A ROBIN BABY. 



The plan is simple. 



