THE PERCHING BiRDs. 29 
British America. Everywhere it is one of the earliest birds to nestle, 
and in the southern part of its range raises two or more broods in a 
season. In the Middle States the robins have paired by April 1, and 
have begun to build their homes before the middle of the month. 
As far north as Detroit, fresh eggs are to be had the second and third 
weeks of April in abundance, while even on the Upper Missouri and 
at Puget Sound, the first broods of young are out early in June, and 
a second brood prepared for.”,—ERNEST INGERSOLL. 
As everybody knows the robin, and most of us 
have told innumerable stories about the bird, perhaps 
the least said the 
better; but the 
subject cannot 
be passed over 
in positive — si- 
lence. The robin 
is wandering Robin 
rather than sys- 
tematically migratory. The northern birds drift 
southward, and those of the Middle States go far- 
ther south, but in no regular way; and if the 
weather is mild, they drift back in midwinter, and 
add their mite to our midwinter minstrelsy. The 
January robin is a lively fellow, and his clear, metallic 
chirp goes a great way towards enlivening the land- 
scape; but this same noisy chatter in May is an 
intolerable nuisance. 
Robins have no remarkable habits, and are pat- 
terns of propriety when keeping house and con- 
cerned with the care of their offspring. Later in the 

season they lead restless, wandering lives, a great 
many being together often, but not closely flocked 
as are the red-winged blackbirds. This disposition 
Be 
