2o8 Bird - Lore 



Here is an authentic account of the raiding of one such roost, given the writer 

 by Dr. P. P. Claxton, of the University of Tennessee. He was familiar with 

 many of the details, and will vouch for the truthfulness of the facts here set 

 forth. He says: "The roost to which I refer was situated in 



A Tennessee 

 Robin Roost 



what is locally known as a 'cedar glade' near Fosterville, Bed- 



ford County, Tennessee. This is a great cedar country, and 

 Robins used to come in immense numbers during the winter months, to feed 

 on the berries. By the middle of a winter's afternoon, the birds would begin 

 coming by our house in enormous flocks, which would follow one another 

 like great waves moving on in the direction of the roost. They would continue 

 to pass until night. We lived fifteen miles from the roost, and it was a matter 

 of common observation that the birds came in this manner from all quarters. 



"The spot which the roost occupied was not unlike numerous others that 

 might have been selected. The trees grew to a height of from five to tliirty 

 feet, and for a mile square were literally loaded at night with Robins. Hunting 

 them while they roosted was a favorite sport. A man would climb a cedar tree 

 with a torch, while his companions with poles and clubs would disturb the 

 sleeping hundreds on the adjacent trees. Bhnded by the light, the suddenly 

 awakened birds flew to the torch bearer, who, as he seized each bird, would 

 quickly pull off its head, and drop it into a sack suspended from his shoulder. 



"The capture of three or four hundred birds was an ordinary night's work. 

 Men and boys would come in wagons from all the adjoining counties and camp 

 near the roost for the purpose of killing Robins. Many times, one hundred or 

 more hunters with torches and clubs would be at work in a single night. For 

 three years this tremendous slaughter continued in winter, and then the sur- 

 vivors deserted the roost." 



These are almost the identical methods employed in killing untold numbers 

 of Wild Pigeons, which is today probably an extinct bird in America. 



That protection should be extended to the Robin because of 

 His Food its economic value as a destroyer of injurious insects many ob- 



servers unite in stating, despite the objection sometimes raised 

 to his fondness for small fruits. The United States Department of Agriculture, 

 which looks so carefully into various subjects of vital importance to our coun- 

 try, sent Mr. W. L. McAtee, a brilliant naturalist, to Louisiana, the past 

 winter, and he made many observations on the feeding habits of these birds. 

 Under date of February 20, 19 10, he reported: 



"I collected twelve Robins near here yesterday, and got the following re- 

 sults from an examination of their gizzards: Eight had eaten nothing but in- 

 sects, the other four had taken respectively 95, 80, 65 and o per cent of insects 

 and other invertebrates. The insects eaten included grasshoppers, (Tettix), hugs 

 {PentatomidcR), beetles {Chrysomelidce, weevils, bill bugs and carabids), beetle 

 larvae (wire worms and others), and caterpillars, including cut worms. An- 

 other day I collected three other Robins which had eaten insects, including 



