8 



SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES. 



foatliors tippoil wiili ivliito. liiU vcllow, dusky along the r'uh^o and at the tip. Length, 

 9.75 to 10.25; extent, 1G..')0; wing, 5.40; tail. 4.75; tar.^us, 1.25. 



Hab. C'i)ntinpiit of North Ameriea to JMexico. Accidental in Europe. 



But few of this well-known species came about Fort Moliave in winter, 

 though flocks are said occasionally to wander as far as Fort Yuma. At San 

 Diego they were more numerous in the wet season, and remained until May, 

 when they probably went no farther than the summits of the mountains, 

 which rise 6,000 feet high, east of tliat place, and are similar in their vegeta- 

 tinn and animals, at that height, to far more nortliern regions. 



.'Vbout the summits of the coast range towards Santa Cruz, elevated 

 about 0,000 feet above the sea, I found Eobins quite numerous in ]\Iay, lcS64, 

 and was satisfied that they had nests there. They also abound on the 



Tttnliis 7nisratoTius. 



higher parts of the Sierra Nevada, but probably do not breed below an ele- 

 vation of 3,000 feet in lat. 38^, as they have not been seen in tlie " mining 

 districts " of the west slope in summer. Northward, lL(_)we\"er, they range 

 lower, and on the Columbia build in all the wooded districts, the young 

 being fledged at Puget Sound as early as June 10th, and two or more 

 broods raised in a season. They prefer the borders of woods, culti^■ated 

 fields, and orchards, having everj'where a tendency to become familiar, which, 

 with their bright plumage and sweet singing, makes them universal favor- 

 ites. Tlieir name, associated with that of the European Eobin, celebrated 

 for its sociability in winter, and its traditional liistory, increases the respect 

 felt for our bird. The Kobin of Europe, however, is quite different, resem- 

 bling our red-breasted Blue-birds (Sialia), l.mt being olive-colored on the 

 back. 



English settlers in the far north have compared our lloljin with their 



