40 , LAND-BIRDS. 



ground, they begin their attacks upon the earthworms, and con- 

 stantly renew them throughout the summer and in September, 

 wherever earthworms are abundant. One may often see Robins 

 gathered on a lawn, particularly after hard showers, eagerly 

 engaged in unearthing their prey, now running along so quickly 

 that it is almost impossible to detect the motion of their feet 

 (which, in fact, is not hopping, but walking), now stopping, 

 and, having cocked their heads to one side that their ears may 

 be near the ground, listening intently, then passing on, or 

 perhaps stopping, and with two or three vigorous strokes of 

 their bills, pulling out the worms, which are soon disposed of. 

 When they fail to secure their prey, after a few bold " digs," 

 they generally move on and do not make any further attempt 

 to obtain it. They make extensive raids upon cherries " and 

 strawberries," when ripe, and feed upon ripe pears and apples, 

 especially in autumn, generally meddling with these latter fruits 

 when fallen to the ground, and not when on the trees. In re- 

 turn for these robberies, they destroy innumerable "cut- 

 worms" and other injurious creatures of the same kind, and 

 confer, in this way, great benefits upon farmers and fruit- 

 growers, for they are much more dependent upon the flesh of 

 insects than upon other food. I think that there is no doubt that 

 between fifty and a hundred Robins eat a million worms and 

 injurious caterpillars, if not more, during their annual sojourn 

 in the neighborhood of Boston. Professor Tread well has re- 

 corded the instance of a young Robin in confinement, who ate 

 in twelve hours 140 per cent of his own weight, and consumed 

 fourteen feet of earthworms. 



The Robins possess greater powers of flight than do the 

 other Thrushes, and can fly far and rapidly, often moving 

 through the air at a considerable height above the ground, 

 particularly when migrating. They have a habit of jerking 

 their tail, which the " Wood Thrushes " do not possess, and 

 which is particularly noticeable when they utter their notes of 

 alarm. They are not brave, with individual exceptions, but 

 are easily frightened, particularly when sitting on their nests, 

 and yet they are by no means shy, and frequent familiarly the 

 neighborhood of man. 



