On Instinct in Birds. Breeding in Hand-reared Robins. 273


nothing new, and may differ on several points, but it is the

system on which I find they thrive best, and those members who

may think of trying to keep some of these “ the noblest of

birds” may be glad to learn of a practicable method, which will

save them disappointment, vexation, and loss.



INSTINCT IN SONG BIRDS. METHOD OF

BREEDING IN HAND-REARED ROBINS.


{Merida migratoria).


[The following interesting paper, from the pen of our

highly esteemed member Professor \V. E. D. Scott, appeared

in the American Journal Science , and is here reproduced by the

Author’s permission.]


On June 17, 1902, a pair of Rob ins 41 {Memla migratoria')

confined in a large room with some hundred and fifty other birds,

of various sorts, hatched eggs which had been laid for some

twelve days. This pair of Robins were birds about four years old,

and were what are known as hand-reared birds. I had taken

them when very young from wild parents and raised them by

hand.


On examining the nest after the second day I found there

was only one young bird. It appeared to be perfectly healthy

and normal, and so matters went on until the fourth day. O11

the morning of the fourth day I found the young Robin had

disappeared from the nest, but the female bird was still brooding.

It now occurred to me to substitute two wild young, rather older,

from a nest of Robins that had been hatched out of doors in the

yard. I introduced these two young birds to the parent birds,

with some remonstrance on their part, but within five minutes of

the time when I placed them in the nest the old birds were feed¬

ing them, and were apparently as solicitous for them as if they

had been their own. At the close of the day, the substitution

having been accomplished early, and I having watched the birds

closely, it appeared to me that only one of the two young birds was

being fed, and I took the other from the nest to rear it by hand.



* Red-breasted Thrush: the Turdus migraton'us of the British Museum Catalogue.—K.P.



