THE WESTERN ROBIN. 



247 



materials. AiimiIrt freak nc>\. in Spokane, showed a iialchet handle firmly 

 imbedded in its loundatiim 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 dit^cult to conceive how the birfls could have placed it in 

 position at a height of fifteen feet. 



Three eggs is the rule for the Western R(;bin; four is not unusual; but 

 In e 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 b\- 

 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 

 would consume dail}- 

 the equivalent of a 

 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 arc 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 seen a mulberry tree swarming with Robins, 

 while neighboring fruit trees were almost untouched. ^ The plan is simple, 

 humane, and efficacious. 



A ROBIN B.\BV. 



