ROBIN ROOSTS. 167 



not unlikely that travelers from the north 

 were making a temporary use of the well- 

 known resort. It would not be surprising 

 if the same were found to be true in the 

 spring. In April, 1890, I saw some things 

 which pointed, as I thought, in this direc- 

 tion, but I was then too closely occupied to 

 follow the matter. 



How early in the season does this nightly 

 flocking begin? This question often pre- 

 sented itself. It was only the middle of 

 July when the Cambridge roost was found 

 in full operation, though at that time many 

 robins must still have had family duties, and 

 some were probably building new nests. 

 Next summer, we said, we would try to 

 mark the beginnings of the congregation. 



My own plans to this end came near being 

 thwarted. In December I was dismayed to 

 see the owner of the wood cutting it down. 

 Happily some kind power stayed his hand 

 when not more than a third of the mischief 

 was done, and on the 29th of June, 1890, 

 while strolling homeward along the highway, 

 listening to the distant song of a veery, I 

 noticed within five or ten minutes seventeen 

 robins making toward the old rendezvous. 



