THE OOLOGIST. 



93 



171. Larun argentatus smithsoniamis. American Herriug Gull. Noted a single 

 specimen at the shore of Lake Ontario near the niontls of Johnson's Creek, August 7, 1888 



172. JJytes aretus. Homed Grebe. This species is reported by Langille as a mi- 

 grant in April and Octob or 



173. Podi'i/mhrn. jwdicfjis. Thick. billed Grdic. N^t uncommon summer resident 

 Breeds along lake Ontario. 



174. CulymbuH t/rrqaatuff. Loon. Not uncommon migrant. Have seen it during 

 the fii-st days of May. 



SUMMARY OF THE ABOVE LIST. 



Resident species .• 14 



Summer resident 84 



Migrant 4G 



Winter visitant 9 



Stragglere 4 



Uuclassified, 1. e., cannot be classified with certainty 17 



Total 174 



Number of species that have been known to breed within the county 8!> 



The Robin. 



The Robin, Turdus mi(jratoriou», is one of 

 our very common species of birds. His 

 dress and habits are so well known to all 

 our readers that a detailed description will 

 be unnecessary. 



How ea^^erly we look for his first a^ipear- 

 ance in Spring! He is among the first 

 arrivals, following usually ihe Sparrows 

 and Bluebirds. After he has arrived, we 

 feel that the "icy hand of Winter " is 

 relaxing and it will soon be removed from 

 the streams and fountains. Then all 

 nature will quickly respond to tlie warm 

 breath of Spring; the buds will swell and 

 burst; the flowers bloom; other birds v/ill 



the robins' work begins. The nest is built 

 in some tree, on some fence, under some 

 shed, on a root under some bank, or just 

 where it pleases the fancy of the bird to 

 build. 



Last summer while visiting my old heme 

 in Buckland, Mass., I discovered what I 

 called a curiosity in the birds' nest line. I 

 will call it a double Robin's nest: 



It was built on a board nailed to two 

 upright joists under my brother's wagon 

 shed. Old horseshoes, chains, etc. Lave 

 been hung on this board for j-ears; and 

 someone took down or hung up something 

 there very often during the busy season of 

 the year . I am sorry to say it was desert- 

 ed when I found it, so I couldn't watch 

 come ; and all will join in a general thanks- the birds and unravel the mj'stery. There 



giving for deliverance. What melodious 

 notes issue from his throat, when mounted 

 on the topmost bough of some tall tree 

 near our dwellings. How insiDiring his 

 song! How it thrills the nerves of a lover i 



were two perfectly formed nests built 

 closely together and interwoven at the 

 bottom . In one nest there were four eggs; 

 in the other, one. I couldn't see anything 

 wrong about either nest or eggs to cause the 



of nature! He is now seen at his best. It birds to leave one and build the other by 

 will soon be time for him to commence its side. Could there any such thing 

 housekeeping. After he has helped pre- j happen as that the male robin had two 

 pxre a home, liis time will be fully occupied : mates and they built side by side? Have 

 in attending to the wants of his mate and i two pairs of liobins been known to build 

 his little family which will soon appear, j side by side, so that the nests are united at 

 The robins comm3nc3 to build their nest ! the bottom and separate at the top ? These 

 not far from the first of May. They are i are questions I submit to the readers of the 

 mad« of straw, dried gi'asses, weeds, mud Oologist for explanation. Have any c f 

 etc., lined with finer grasses. The blue you found similar structures? Any one 



who has taken the time to watch a pair ot 



eggs, usually four in number, soon ajipear. 

 The eggs are hatched in a short time. Then 



robins feed their j'oung, can get a little idea 



