206 Lewis, Winter Robins in Nova Scotia. [April 



a few days sooner, for, in that case, attempts to obtain records 

 from others would, no doubt, have been more successful, and my 

 own observations would in all probability have been more extensive. 

 It so happened that, during the time when the Robins were most 

 abundant in this immediate vicinity, military duties, always 

 exacting, became unusually strenuous, and for a while little thought 

 or effort could be given by me to the birds. Nevertheless, as 

 many observations as possible were made, and the observations 

 of those with whom 1 came in contact were recorded. At the same 

 time, 1 endeavored to obtain information from other parts of the 

 province, and to that end sent numerous inquiries to those whom 

 1 knew to be interested in birds or who were likely to be interested. 



Here 1 was greatly hindered by the present condition of the 

 observation and study of birds in Nova Scotia. 1 was forced to 

 realize that there are less than a dozen active bird students in the 

 province, and, although there are doubtless many more than that 

 who would note with spontaneous interest the occurrence of Robins 

 here in midwinter, there is no organization by which 1 could learn 

 of the identity of such individuals when personally unknown to me, 

 or through which I could get into communication with them. 1 

 was forced to depend very largely upon blind guess, while following 

 up every clue which 1 found, and the resulting observations, 

 though fairly numerous, are no doubt but a small part of what 

 might have been obtained had there been, for instance, even one 

 trained and active observer in each county. This fact should be 

 kept in mind when considering the records obtained as evidence 

 of the degree of abundance of the robins. 



To all who contributed observations or information concerning 

 the Robins 1 wish to express my thanks. 1 am also under obliga- 

 tion to the Amherst 'News-Sentinel,' the Truro 'Daily News,' 

 and the Glace Bay 'Gazette' for publishing, on the initiative of 

 their respective editors, requests that information concerning 

 winter Robins be sent to me. These requests were the means of 

 providing me with no inconsiderable amount of valuable data. 



It may be argued that observations learned of in this way are 

 untrustworthy and therefore valueless, for, of necessity, 1 am not 

 personally acquainted with many of those who so kindly furnished 

 me with information, and 1 cannot definitely vouch for the skill 



