THE WESTERN ROBIN. 



243 



Authorities. — [Lewis and Clark, Hist. Ex. 1814 Ed. liiddlc: Coucs, \'ol. II. 

 p. 185.] Turdus (pkuiesticus) iniyratoriits, Linn, Baird, Re]). Pac. R. R. Surv. 

 IX. pt. II. 1858, p. 219. (T.) C&S. L'. Rh. D'. Sr. Kb. Ra. D-\ Ss'. Ss-^. Kk. 

 J. R. E. 



Specimens. — U. of \V. P'. Prov. liN. B. E. 



THERE are, it may be, a ibousand fruits, sweet, acid or spicy, wbicii 

 delight the palate of man, yet if we were forced to choose among them, not 

 many of us would fail to reserxe the a])i)le. In like manner, we could jierhaps 

 least afford to spare our tried and trusted, old, familiar friend, the Robin. 

 He is a staple. 



Everybody knows Robin. He is part and ]jarcel 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 

 musical instruction of our children. 

 He serves without pay — Oh, a 

 cherry now and then, but what of that ? The fruit-growtr never had a more 

 useful hired man; and it is written: "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that 

 trcadeth 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 I 



n Oregov. PJwto by IV. L 

 B.ACK l-ROM M.XRKKT. 



l-'intcy. 



