224 Birds of Pennsylvania. 



Hab. — Eastern North America to Rocky Mountains, including eastern Mexico 

 and Alaska. Breeds from near the southern border of the United States northward 

 to the Arctic coast; winters from southern Canada and the Northern States (irregu- 

 larly) southward. ^^ 



This familiar bird is abundant throughout the State during the 

 spring, summer and autumn. In the winter months it is not uncom- 

 mon to find small flocks about cedar thickets, swamps and other well 

 sheltered localities. At times, other than when breeding, Robins are 

 gregarious. Late in the summer and autumn they collect in good- 

 sized flocks and repair every evening to some favorite roosting resort. 

 M'here they are found often in company with Cowbirds and Purple 

 Grackles. The Robin seems in no way particular about the site se- 

 lected for its bulky nest of mud, leaves, dried grass, etc. Although 

 it usually builds in a tree, it frequently nests under an overhanging 

 bank along the roadside, or under a porch, and occasionally on fence- 

 rails. In May, 1880, a friend of mine found, near West Chester, a 

 nest of this bird built on the ground in the middle of a woods, and 

 concealed by May-apple plants. The eggs, usually four or five in 

 number, are light bluish green, and measure about 1.16 long by .79 

 wide. With us at least two broods are raised each season. By farmers 

 and fruit growers the Robin is very generally regarded as a nuisance, 

 because of his fondness for various small fruits. The following notes 

 and remarks on the food, it is hoped, will suffice to show that this 

 species is at least somewhat beneficial to the agriculturist and pomolo- 

 gist, even though it will, at certain periods of the year, subsist largely 

 on a fruit diet: In the early part of June, 1879, twenty-three robins 

 were captured on the same date and in East Bradford, Pa. The birds 

 were taken in an apple orchard, or in the act of going to or from cherry 

 trees located near said orchard. Thirteen birds of this series showed, 

 on dissection, remains of cherries ; five of the thirteen had only this 

 fruit in their viscera. The remaining eight birds had, in addition, and 

 certainly with two exceptions, in excess, insect food, consisting mainly 

 of small brown and black beetles. One bird had in its stomach two 

 earth-worms. Seven young birds, taken from the nests, with the ex- 

 ception of one that had a small piece of cherry, which, however, was 

 present in connection with a large insect mass, furnished only proof 

 of an insectivorous diet, which was so comminuated as to be almost 

 unrecognizable. Sufficient evidences, however, were present to es- 

 tablish the fact that beetles were an important element in their l)illof 

 fare. Two birds destitute of all food materials. 



Dr. Coues (Birds of the Colorado Valley), writes: "The Robin is 

 a great eater of berries and soft fruits of every description, and these 

 furnish, during the colder portion of the year, its chief sustenance. 

 Some of the cultivated fruits of the orchard and garden are specially 

 attractive, and no doubt the birds demand their tithe. But the dam- 



