OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 13 



In closing this brief but necessarily imperfect 

 sketch, an incident which was related to us by a 

 thoroughly reliable friend is deserving of notice. 

 Having taken a pair of young Robins from their 

 nest, he confined them in a cage and placed the 

 latter upon a tree at a short distance from his 

 residence, supposing that the old birds would 

 supply their wants. For a brief period they were 

 carefully fed by the latter, but after repeated unsuc- 

 cessful efforts to free them from incarceration, early 

 one morning the parents were seen to visit the cage 

 and administer what appeared to be large green 

 caterpillars of irritating properties. In a short time 

 both birds which up to this period were full of life 

 and energy, became lifeless bodies. A similar state 

 ment in connection with the history of the Mocking 

 Bird has been reported to us by reliable parties 

 who have been eye-witnesses. But the above is 

 the only instance of a not dissimilar action upon 

 the part of the Robin. 



Turdus mustelinus, Gmelin. 



Unlike its near cousin whose history has been 

 briefly delineated, the Wood Robin as the above 

 species is fitly designated, is a rather late visitant. 

 At least, it has never been observed by us until 

 Spring has thoroughly re-asserted her supremacy. 

 It ordinarily visits the latitude of Philadelphia, 

 during the last week of April or the beginning of 

 May ; often as late as the eleventh day of the 

 latter month. Its presence is announced by the 



