The Robin. 173 



angry tones, and the encounters are no doubt very excit- 

 ing to the participants. 



In his dealings with his neighbors, the robin is not 

 always inclined toward peace, especially when he happens 

 to live near a family of grackles. If a blundering grackle 

 chances to cross the limits of his neighbor's territory, 

 Kobin is after him with ready bill and angry squeak, and 

 it is likely that the intruder will retreat without remain- 

 ing to give battle. Another undesirable visitor to the 

 claimed premises of the robin is the blue jay, and though 

 he may saunter into the vicinity of the nest innocent of 

 trespass, or may be going honestly about his business, he 

 is indignantly ordered to leave the premises, and is usually 

 ejected at once. This manifestation of ill-temper is only 

 the result of the robin's jealous care for his home and 

 family. Most of the birds, which ordinarily seem ami- 

 able and winsome, are easily ruffled by the approach of 

 even a harmless neighbor into the vicinity of their homes. 



Eobins begin to nest even before the stout crotches 

 which hold their adobe dwellings are tinged with the 

 green of the budding garniture. Many a brood of young 

 robins is cradled in most cheerless surroundings. But 

 even when the ill-timed snows of early April flutter upon 

 the head and back of the devoted mother birds, they 

 merely tuck their ruddy feather coverlets more cozily 

 about their treasures and nestle more closely behind the 

 impervious walls of their earthen homes. Have the robins 

 been taught by experience that grassy walls alone form 

 imperfect shelter from the chill winds of early April ? 

 Have they learned that their plebeian cottages, perhaps 

 objects of scorn and ridicule to Sir Baltimore and Madam 

 Vireo, are the best sort of dwellings for their March and 

 April establishments? It may be possible that those who 

 are disposed to sneer at the humble mud cots of the other- 

 wise well-to-do robins may have the worst of the argu- 

 ment after all. Be that as it may, the robins are too sen- 

 sible to be laughed out of the style of architecture sanc- 

 tioned by their better judgment, and so they are still 

 industriously plastering the walls of their habitations — 

 wise builders that they are. 



The first nests are usually made soon after the first of 



