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SOME OBSERVATIONS ON ROBIN NESTS. 



Fred L. Charles. 



In the main building of the Northern Illinois State Normal 

 School, at DeKalb, are several partially vine-clad windows 

 which afford attractive nesting sites for robins. Two robin 

 nests on window-sills were under close observation for a few 

 days each by classes in the above-named instituion during 

 May and June of 1908. That such complete data were secured 

 is due largely to the enthusiasm and ability of Miss Jessie R. 

 Mann, assistant in Biology. 



We shall speak of the two groups of nestlings as the May 

 brood and the June brood. There is no evidence that the 

 parents were the same for these two broods, although it is 

 wholly possible. The nests were located in widely separated 

 portions of the building, the ]\Iay nest having an eastern ex- 

 posure and the June nest a northern. Both, however, were in 

 fairly sheltered situations and we were able to obtain excellent 

 photographs of both. The observations were taken under ab- 

 solutely normal conditions, from within the building, the window 

 (in the second story, in each case) being raised after the first 

 few days and the observer sitting at ease at close range. 



The May nest was first noticed April 23 and was completed 

 April 27. The first egg was laid during the forenoon of April 

 29; the second, on April 30, between 9:42 and 10:32 a. m., the 

 female being on the nest during that period. The third and 

 last egg was laid between 10:45 and 11:30 a. m.. May 1. The 

 female began sitting that afternoon and was on the nest the 

 greater part of the time through the cool or rainy days that 

 followed. The male was first seen May 8, when he was heard 

 chirping and was seen to be having some unpleasantness with 

 the sparrows. Two of the young were found hatched on the 

 morning of May 14, and throughout the day the male brought 

 food, most of which was fed to the young by the mother bird, 

 which left the nest occasionally but rarel}^ brought food. These 

 first feedings consisted chiefly of earthworms, myriapods (?) 



