THE AMERICAN KUUIN. 



birds already located; but the latter is, I believe, usually the case. ( >r again 

 we may conceive that the thirsty land drinks up each succeeding wave until 

 its force is dissipated, or until the saturation point is reached, after which 

 those which follow may pass on without loss, save of the lame and the lazy. 

 Certain it is that the local population is everywhere augmented during 

 March, and that great straggling fleets, composed of several hundred indi- 

 viduals, pass over our heads as late as the first week in April. 



During the uncertain days of early spring 



the Robins gather in ^^^H ""******^-j. loose companies and 



keep to the seclusion f''^ jj^feb. °* tne Wl ""' s - I0 '~ 



lowing the sun from jT* BrSk eaSl to S ' ' Ut ' 1 an< ' 



west, ransacking tlie / W^ roots of trees 



and the edges of i ?\ standing water 



for food, and, / tRl abi 



P 



\ 



*.>H 



', UONMNC! 



/OEMS FOE MI 



sketching in the matrimonial plans of the season. When Robins have become 

 common about the streets and yards of village and town, partners have usually 

 been selected, but there still remain for many of the cocks hard-contested 

 battles before peaceful pi issession is assured. These are not sham fights either ; 

 a Robin will fight a hated rival, beak and claw, till he is either thoroughly 

 winded or killed outright. 



After the first brood is raised the males assemble nightly with the full- 

 grown vi lung in chosen roosts, while the females are undertaking the duties 

 of a second brood. These roosts are selected either in village shade trees 

 or in thickets and rank vegetation of low-lying swampy land. Curiously 

 enough they often share a bit of grove with the Bronzed Grackles. or else 

 mix in freely with the Redwings in the cat-tail swamps. During July and 

 August few birds are to be seen in their breeding haunts, but except for a 



