684 STONE CHAT. 



Tlic food of thepo l)ir(l« consist^ in a tireat nuMsure of insects, cspcciallv during- that 

 part of the _\ear when they are rearing their young. As much has been said upon this 

 subject, expressing coutriuy opinions, J offer the result of my observations. Out of seven 

 robins dissected in April, the stomachs of but three contained vegetable food to the exclu- 

 sion oi' insects; all the others were filled with grubs, beetles, other insects and earthworms. 

 The stomachs of the three of which I have spoken contained dried liarberries. These l)irds 

 were shot in earlv April, when the ground v.-as partly frozen. The stomachs of the birds 

 shot in June all contained wire worms or beetles ; and only iii one instance was there any 

 addition to this food, then I found a few currants. In July I found the sa..me food, ex- 

 cepting the currants, and with the addition of grasshoppers. In August and Septcmljer 

 their stomachs exhibited about an equal proportion of insects, chenies and Ijerries. In 

 but two instances out of se\en did I tind that the Littur artick-s of diet wci-e tai\en 

 to the exclusion of the insect food. October and November finds them feeding upoii 

 worthless berries. What few remain in New England diu'ing winter subsist upon the 

 berries of the momitain ash, the savin and th.e cedar. 



The robins breed in New England from April l-Jth to July 15th, connnonis ra.ising 

 two and even three broods in a season. I lisive newr found them breeding in Florida, but 

 have been informed that they remain through the summer in some localities. This species 

 is suWect to albinism, and it is not uncomuKJU to sue a i)ied or wiiite specimen. This is 

 owiu"' to a diseased condition of the feathers or to extreme old age, when the bird seems 

 to lose the power of moulting ; then the feathers become nearly white ; I have taken a 

 specimen in this condition that was nesting. They live to a good old age ; a specimen 

 taken when young and kept in confinement by my tViend, Mr. L. L. Thaxter, lived over 

 ten vears. Early in life it lost an eye by an attack from a cat, yet it appeared lively and 

 happy until its death, which resulted from age. 



The song of the robin consists of several loud notes given with energy ; it can hardly 

 be called fine, yet it is lively and agreeable. Perched on the topmost bough of some 

 apple tree, in the rosy twilight, after a sunny day in early spring, he pours out his song. 

 Thus his simple lay becomes associated with the balm}' odor of the pine woods, the bud- 

 din<y trees, and growing grass in the meadows, all pleasant reminders of the early sum- 

 mer. The robin appears in Florida in some winters, arriving usually in November. 



GENUS. SAXICOLA. STONE CHATS. 



Bill not as long as head, short and slender. Tail, shorter than wing, square and emarginate. A large 

 and widely distributed Old World genus. Sexes not similar.^ 



SAXICOLA OENANTHE. 



Stone Chat 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Ch. Size, medium. Form, slender. Color. Adult male. Ashy gray, with the forehead, super- 

 ciliary line, upper tail coverts and lower parts, white. Wings and tail, black, the latter with most of the 



1 Tlie ^unus SiixicJla should follow Uie family Saxicolidao on Ihn next page. 



