THE WESTERN ROBIN. 247 
materials. Another freak nest, in Spokane, showed a hatchet handle firmly 
imbedded in its foundation and projecting from it a distance of six inches. 
The presence of the handle was not adventitious, for the nest was saddled on a 
pine branch, but it is difficult to conceive how the birds could have placed it in 
position at a height of fifteen feet. 
Three eggs is the rule for the Western Robin; four is not unusual; but 
five is rare, and I have never seen six. In this respect, therefore, the Western 
Robin falls a little behind her eastern cousin. 
Young Robins are 
darling creatures; §& 
that is conceded by §& 
everyone,—even by 
the cat. And hun- 
gry! Oh, so hun- 
gry! It is estimated 
that if the appetite 
of a man were pro- 
portioned to that of 
a young Robin, he - ne ae . ‘ 
would consume daily “eee... - 
the equivalent of a sm a a oe 
sausage four inches 
in diameter and 
twelve feet long! 
In spite of the law-makers, who knew exactly what they were doing in 
declaring the Robin worthy of protection, thousands of these birds are an- 
nually slaughtered by unthinking people because of a rumored fondness for 
cherries and other small fruits. And yet we are assured by competent 
authorities that cultivated fruit forms only four per cent of the Robin’s food 
thruout the year, while injurious insects constitute more than one-third. 
Robins in the cherry trees are provoking, especially when they bring the 
whole family and camp out; but there is one way to limit their depredations 
without destroying these most distinguished helpers; plant a row of mulberry 
trees, preferably the Russian Mulberry, along the orchard fence, and the 
birds will seek no further. I have seena mulberry tree swarming with Robins, 
while neighboring fruit trees were almost untouched. The plan is simple, 
humane, and efficacious. 
ie 
L 
‘ 
A ROBIN BABY. 
