BIRDS OF 



heard rehearsing their summer song, l)eing evidently somewliat 

 out of practice. In a few days the females make their appear- 

 ance and receive every attention. 



The site for the nest is soon selected, and both birds work 

 diligently till the structure is completed. The first set of eggs 

 is layed in April, and during the tedious days of incubation the 

 male often mounts his perch to cheer his faithful mate with 

 what to her may seem delightful strains of music. On human 

 ears the song does not fall as a first-class performance, but it 

 is given with great earnestness and liberalit}^, and is greeted 

 with welcome as the prelude to the grand concert of bird music 

 which is soon to be heard in the woods and fields all over the 

 country. At this season the food of the Robin consists chiefly 

 of worms and various insects. It is a fine exhibition of bird life 

 to seehim, early in the dewy morning, hop damtly over the newly 

 cut grass to where an earth worm is exposing liimself near the 

 surface. W^ith his head on one side the bird watches every 

 wriggle of the worm with intense interest ; if it is well clear of 

 the ground it is seized, and with a jerk thrown clear of its hole, 

 but if only a part of the worm is exposed the course is different ; 

 it is seized quickly and held firmly while it struggles hard to get 

 into its hole. Robin knows that now a sudden jerk will part the 

 animal and give him only a portion, but he knows how much 

 strain the material will bear, and so he holds on till the exhausted 

 worm relaxes its hold, is tossed out and pounded till fit for use. 



As the season advances a second and even a third brood of young 

 may be raised. The birds acquire a fondness for fruit, and now 

 come the charges against them of robbing the cherry tree. No 

 doubt they do take a few for themselves and families, but after 

 all they are entitled to some consideration on account of the 

 numbers of noxious insects which tiiey destroy in the garden, and 

 for my own part I would sacrifice a good many cherries rather 

 than not have the Robins around the house. 



Those which travel to the far north have a different experi- 

 ence. Dr. Richardson tells us that " The male is one of the 

 loudest and most assidious songsters wliich frequent the Fur 

 Countries, beginning his chant immediately on his arrival. 



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