WOODLAND SINGERS. 



157 



Compare this with the music of the hermit thrush 

 further on, and it will be seen what a great difference 

 there is in the construction of the two songs. The 

 hermit thrush gives us no warbling note, but distinct 

 silvery whistles in rapid triplets. It would be impos- 

 sible, too, for the robin to sustain a long high note, 

 and then " go to pieces " in silvery fragments on the 

 next higher one, just as the hermit does. No ; robin 

 rarely ventures beyond his low-pitch, agitated coup- 

 lets and triplets, but these he delivers with consum- 

 mate skill. 



The robin's nest is a rude, mud-plastered affair 

 saddled on a low bough or set upon a secluded bit of 

 ground ; in it one may see from four to six most 

 beautiful " robin's-egg blue " eggs. I use the popu- 

 lar color term because it is the only one which is 

 unique, and is fittingly given. The color is a sober, 

 delicate, yet pronounced green -blue, the like of which 

 is not easily found elsewhere in Nature. 



How much the young robin can eat is a subject 

 for an essay ; in fact, it is one which for many years 



