8 



site of the last summer's nest is selected for the new one, but, as their 

 economy and habits of cleanliness do not permit them to occupy the 

 same nest a second season, the old one is thrown down, and a new 

 one built in its place. This, however, is often impossible, for the 

 Robins, though less artistic architects than some other birds, build 

 such substantial nests, that their masonry is capable of withstanding 

 the winds and storms of several seasons, after the builders are through 

 with them ; hence it is sometimes impossible for the birds to make 

 much impression on the hardened walls, and, in such cases, if no 

 equally pleasant situation is at hand, a second nest is constructed on 

 top of the first, making a two-storied residence. It sometimes hap- 

 pens that a third structure is deposited above that, on the succeeding 

 season, though I have known of but one such instance. I once saw a 

 nest that was built on a brace, or ornamental support, of the building 

 at which toll is collected, on the American side of the Niagara suspen- 

 sion bridge, in a much frequented situation ; attracting not a little 

 attention from the numerous visitors. If courteously received, Robins 

 will become quite familiar and friendly. On more than one occasion, 

 I have known them to build upon a piece of timber, Just above the 

 door of a dwelling, beneath the porch, where, in one instance, a num- 

 ber of noisy children were frequently playing beneath. Lieut. Willis 

 Wittich, of Fort Klamath, Oregon, writes me that the Robins there 

 build their nests on the prairies, on the ground, or, if in the timber, 

 low down. I have seen an approach to these habits in our eastern 

 bird. I was shown (by my friend, Mr. Wm. Church Osborn, to whom 

 I am indebted for many valuable observations noted further on) a nest 

 built on the ground, in a hollow in the side of a sloping bank by the 

 roadside. I discovered another nest that was placed in a tangled 

 thicket of matted vines and bushes, quite close to the ground. 



All of the nesting sites mentioned above are unusual, and only go 

 to show how great an amount of variation is observable in the habits 

 of any species, when a sufficient number of individuals is examined; 

 of course these minor differences in traits or habits are greatly en- 

 hanced if our observations be made to extend over widely differing 

 areas of the bird's habitat. 



Robins commence laying early in May. Five nests were found, con- 

 taining five, three, four, one, and four eggs, respectively, on May llth, 

 1872 ; in 1873, the first nest seen contained a single egg on May 6th ; 

 on May 4th, 1874, the first nest was discovered, containing four eggs. 

 In warm, early seasons, the birds begin to nest at an earlier period 

 than usual ; thus, during the remarkably advanced spring of 1878, I 

 observed that a pair of Robins were engaged in constructing a nest as 

 early as the loth of April, and, on the 27th of the same month, a nest 

 was found, containing the full complement (four) of eggs. 



