THE WESTERN ROBIN. 243 
Authorities.—[ Lewis and Clark, Hist. Ex. 1814 Ed. Biddle: Coues, Vol. IT. 
~p. 185.] Turdus (planesticus) nugratorws, Linn, Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. 
IX. me Mies om peectO wn (ls) Gta Ie Rh =. on. Kb: Rae 2; ostansse. Mik. 
Jo 8 135 
Specimens.—U. of W. P'. Prov. BN. B. E. 
THERE are, it may be, a thousand fruits, sweet, acid or spicy, which 
delight the palate of man, yet if we were forced to choose among them, not 
many of us would fail to reserve the apple. In like manner, we could perhaps 
least afford to spare our tried and trusted, old, familiar friend, the Robin. 
He is a staple. 
Everybody knows Robin. He is part and parcel of springtime, chief 
herald, chief poet, and lord high reveller of that joyful season. It is a merry 
day when the first flock of Robins 
turns itself loose on the home land- 
scape. There is great bustle and stir 
of activity. Some scurry about to 
note the changes wrought by winter, 
some wrestle with the early and un- 
sophisticated worm, while others 
voice their gladness from the fence- 
post, the gable, the tree-top, any- 
where. Everywhere are heard in- 
terjections of delight, squeechings 
and pipings of ardent souls, and no 
end of congratulations over the 
home-coming. 
Robin has cast in his lot with 
ours, for better or for worse. Our 
lawns are his lawns, our shade-trees 
were set on purpose to hold his 
homely mud-cup, and he has under- 
taken with hearty good will the Tae ene OF daa. ase Rose ty) Ween Finley: 
musical instruction of our children. BACK FROM MARKET. 
He serves without pay—Oh, a 
cherry now and then, but what of that? The fruit-grower never had a more 
useful hired man; and it is written: “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that 
treadeth out the corn.” I wonder if we realize how much of life’s good cheer 
and fond enspiriting we owe to this familiar bird. 
Near the close of a burning day in the desert, we drew near to a little 
ranch where a bravery of green, supported by a windmill and a tiny trickle of 
water, defied the engulfing waste of sand and sage. It seemed to me that 1 
