242 THE WESTERN ROBIN. 
A SMALL proportion, not over one per cent, of the Robins which annu- 
ally cross our borders have enough white in the “corners” of their tails to pro- 
claim them true “Americans.” The difference is striking and unmistakable, 
and we feel sure that we have here, not a chance variation, but an alien ele- 
ment, a slender stream of migration diverted from the accustomed channels 
of typical P. migratorius, and straggling down, or up, on the wrong side of 
the Rockies. When it is remembered that the American Robin winters in 
Florida and the Gulf States, and that its spring migrations take it as far west 
as the Kowak River, in Alaska, that 1s, due northwest from Atlanta, it is less 
surprising that the birds should occasionally bear west northwest instead, and 
so make Washington en route. It is almost certain that this is the case, for 
the wintering birds west of the Rockies and in Mexico are invariably of the 
western type, propingius. 
No. 99. 
WESTERN ROBIN. 
A. O. U. No. 761a. Planesticus migratorius propinquus (Ridgw.). 
Description.—Similar to P. migratorius, but white on inner webs of outer 
rectrices much reduced or wanting; gray of upperparts paler and more oliva- 
ceous, more sharply contrasting with black of head; cinnamon-rufous of under- 
parts averaging paler; wing, tail, and tarsus slightly longer. Length of males 
about 10.25 (260.3); wing 5.52 (140); tail 4.13 (105); bill .80 (20.3); tarsus 
1.34 (34.1). Females slightly smaller. 
Recognition Marks.—‘Robin” size; cinnamon-rufous below — everyone 
knows the Robin—without white on “corners” of tail as distinguished from 
preceding. 
Nesting.—Nest: a thick-walled but shapely bowl of mud (rarely felted 
vegetable fibers instead) set about with twigs, leaves, string and trash, and lined 
with fine grass-stems; placed anywhere in trees or variously, but usually at 
moderate heights. Eggs: 3 or 4, rarely 5; greenish blue, unmarked. Av. size 
1.15 X .79 (20.2 x 20.1). Season: April 15-July 10; two broods. 
General Range.—Western North America from the Rocky Mountains to 
the Pacific, north to limit of trees in coast forest district in Alaska; south thru 
highlands of Mexico and occasionally Guatemala; breeding nearly thruout its 
range. 
Range in Washington.—Common summer resident and migrant thruout 
the State, more common in settled portions; rare in mountains save in vicinity 
of settlements; irregularly resident in winter, sometimes abundantly on Puget 
Sound. 
Migrations.—S pring: West-side, last week in February; East-side, first or 
second week in March. Fall: October. 
