A SILVER-TONGUED FAMILY 97 



the blood ; thus, a cat and a tiger are blood relations ; 

 the little coon and the great black bear are nearly akin. 

 A tall broad-shouldered man, with black hair and a 

 full beard, may have a cousin who is short and thin, 

 with yellow hair and no beard. You see nothing 

 strange in this, because it is something to which you 

 are accustomed. But with bird families it takes the 

 trained eye of the student to see the likeness there 

 really is between all birds who have had the same an- 

 cestors, though it may be hidden under many differ- 

 ences in their size, shape, color, voice, and habits. 



" The Robin, like the Bluebird, is found in almost all 

 parts of North America. In the far Southern States, 

 like Florida, where they take refuge from winter storms, 

 Robins begin to sing in chorus while the weather in the 

 Middle and Northern States is still so cold that it would 

 freeze the music before any one could hear it, even if 

 the birds had courage to sing. But delightful as the 

 climate is there, where it also provides a plentiful table 

 of berries, these Robins break away from the land of 

 plenty and begin their northern journey before the 

 first shad dares venture up the rivers. 



" On and on they go, this great army of Robins, fly- 

 ing in flocks of ten and hundreds. Here and there 

 they meet with smaller flocks, which have been able to 

 spend the winter in roving about not far from their 

 nesting places, and then there is a great deal of talk- 

 ing ; for the Robin has a great many ways of making 

 remarks. Some of his numerous notes sound as if he 

 were asking a long list of questions ; others express 

 discontent ; then again he fumes and sputters with 

 anger. 



