44 ROBIN. 



(Nj/ssa »yhatica). So fond are they of gum berries, that wherever 

 there is one of these trees covered with fruit, and flocks of Robins in 

 the neighborhood, the sportsman need only take his stand near it, load, 

 take aim, and fire ; one flock succeeding another Avith little interruption, 

 almost the whole day ; by this method prodigious slaughter has been 

 made among them with little fatigue. When berries fail they disperse 

 themselves over the fields, and along the fences, in search of worms and 

 other insects. Sometimes they will disappear for a week or two, and 

 return again in greater numbers than before ; at which time the cities 

 pour out their sportsmen by scores, and the markets are plentifully 

 supplied with them at a cheap rate. In January 1807, two young men, 

 in one excursion after them, shot thirty dozen. In the midst of such 

 devastation, which continued many weeks, and by accounts extended 

 from Massachusetts to Maryland, some humane person took advantage 

 of a circumstance common to these birds in winter, to stop the general 

 slaughter. The fruit called poke-berries {^Phytolacca decandra, Linn.) 

 is a favorite repast with the Robin, after they are mellowed by the 

 frost. The juice of the berries is of a beautiful crimson, and they are 

 eaten in such quantities by these birds, that their whole stomachs are 

 strongly tinged with the same red color. A paragraph appeared in the 

 public papers, intimating, that from the great quantities of these berries 

 which the Robins had fed on, they had become unwholesome, and even 

 dangerous food ; and that several persons had suffered by eating of 

 them. The strange appearance of the bowels of the birds seemed to 

 corroborate this account. The demand for, and use of them ceased 

 almost instantly ; and motives of self-preservation produced at once 

 what all the pleadings of humanity could not effect.* AVhen fat they 

 are in considerable esteem for the table, and probably not inferior to 

 the turdi of the ancients, which they bestowed so much pains on in 

 feeding and fattening. The young birds are frequently and easily 

 raised, bear the confinement of the cage, feed on bread, fruits, &c., sing 

 well, readily learn to imitate parts of tunes, and are very pleasant and 

 cheerful domestics. In these I have always observed that the orange 

 on the breast is of a much deeper tint, often a dark mahogany or 

 chestnut color, owing no doubt to their food and confinement. 



The Robin is one of our earliest songsters ; even in March, while 

 snow yet dapples the fields, and flocks of them are dispersed about, 

 some few will mount a post or stake of the fence, and make short and 



• Governor Drayton, in his "View of South Carolina," p. 86, observes that "the 

 Rohinn in winter devour i\\v berries of the Bead tree {McUa Azcdarach), in such 

 larjie quantitifs, tluit after eatin;; of them thoy are observed to full down, and are 

 readily taken. Tliis is ascribed more to distension from abundant eating than from 

 any deleterious qualities of the plant." The fact, however, is, that they are lite- 

 raUy choked, many of the berries being too large to be swallowed. 



