Seo. 11.] BIRDS. 186 



repeal the law for protection of robins, upon tlie ground that these birds 

 were noxious to the farmer ; it being contended that their food being veg- 

 etable, they were great destroyers of valuable fruits. Upon this, Prof. 

 Jenks (Prof, of Zoology) suggested that the Society should tirst learn the 

 habits of the robin, and a committee, consisting of Prof. Jenks, C. M. Ilovey, 

 and E. S. Rand, Jr., were appointed, and have reported tlie following facts : 

 " Plan Adopted for the Invcsst'ujation. — 1. To obtain birds at daybreak, mid- 

 day, and sunset. 2. To obtain birds from both the village and the country. 

 3. To preserve in alcohol the contents of each gizzard. 



licsidts ill Procurmg Specimens. — Beginning with the first week in March, 

 1858, specimens have been examined at least weekhj, and most of the time 

 daily, to December, and during the winter months, at least semi-monthly to 

 the date of the report, in the spring. 



liesults of Investigation. — 1. Early in March, numbers of this bird made 

 their appearance in this vicinity (Boston) ; but, nntil the second week in 

 April, only the male birds. 



2. The gizzards of those killed in the morning were, as a rule, either 

 entirely empty, or but partially distended with food, well macerated ; while 

 those killed in the latter part of the day were as uniformly filled with food 

 freshly taken. 



3. From the almost daily examination of their gizzards from the early part 

 of March to the first of May, not a particle of vegetable matter was foimd in 

 the gizzard of a single bird. On the contrary, insects in great variety, botli 

 as to number and kind, as well as in every variety of condition as to growth 

 and development, were the sole food. 



But nine tenths of the aggregate mass of f'oil thus collected during this 

 period consisted of one kind of larv:\i, which, througli the aid of Baron Osten- 

 sacken, secretary of the Eussian legation at "Washington, I was enabled to 

 identify as the Bihio albipennis (Sai/), and whose history and habits, by the 

 aid of Dr. Asa Fitch, entomologist of the New York State Agricultural 

 Society, I was enabled to make out quite satisfactorily. 



From one to two hundred of tliese larv!\3 were frequently taken from a 

 single gizzard, all in a fresh, unmacerated condition ; and usually, when these 

 larvaa were found, they were the only food in the stomach. 



To quote from a communication received from Dr. Fitch, he says : ' My 

 attention was first directed to this ily some twelve ycara ago, when I was 

 occupied in investigating the wheat midge. I observed it to be so very 

 common in fields of growing wheat that I suspected it of living at the expense 

 of that "-rain crop ; but on looking around 1 found it was equally as common 

 everywhere else— resting upon the grass, leaves, and flowers in my yard and 

 garden, as well as in meadows, ]iastures, and forests. ***** It 

 comes abroad about tlie 20tii of May, and continues about a fortnight. You 

 will readily recognize it by its commonness, and its white transparent wings ; 

 its body being Idack, clothed with soi't, white hairs. It is very sluggish, 

 moving around but little, and is easily picked up by the fingers. * * * 



