TUKDID.K — THE TIIKISIIKS. 



27 



own weif»lit hom^ consumed hy tlie youni]f bird witliin twenty-four hours, 

 and, what is more, demonstrated to be neeessarv to its existence. 



In Massachusetts a tew Ilobins remain thronjj:hout the yea», hut the i^reater 

 proportion leave early in November, returning late in February or early in 

 March. 



The song of the Kobin is deservedly popular. "While many of our birds 

 |X)s.sess far superior powers of melody, and exhibit a much u^reater variety in 

 their song, there are none tliat exceed it in its duration or extent. It is the 

 first bird in spring to open and one of the last to close the great concert of 

 Nature. Their song is earnest, simple, and thrilling, and is said by Audubon 

 to resemble that of tlie European lUackbird, Tunlm mcrula. 



The llobin, wlien taken young, may l)e readily tamed, and soon becomes 

 contented and accustomed to confinement. They are devoted to their young, 

 watcliful, attentive, and provident. They begin to construct their nest in 

 early spring before the trees put forth tlieir leaves, and often in very exposed 

 positions. The size of the nest, in fact, makes concealment impossible. 

 These nests ai > sometimes placed in tpiite remarkable positions, such iis 

 the beams of a ship partly finislied, and where the carpentei-s were every 

 day at work, and similar situations indicating a great familiarity. Their 

 favorite ])lace is the horizontal branch of an apple-tree, about ten feet from 

 the ground. 



The nest of the Itobin is a large and coarselv constructed combination of 

 rude materials. It is composed of a base of straw% leaves, mosses, stems, 

 and dry grasses, upon which a cup-shaped fabric of clay or mud is built. 

 The whole is lined with finer dry grasses and vegetable fibres. They 

 avemge 5 inch.es in lieight and the same in diameter. Their cavity is 

 2 J inches deep, with a diameter of 2 J, inches. 



The eggs of the llobin, wliich are usually five and sometimes six in num- 

 ber, are of a uniform bright greenish-blue color, liable to fade when exposed 

 to light, but when fresh exliibiting a very distinct and bright tint. They 

 vary in size from 1.25 to 1.12 inches in lengtli, and in breadth from .88 to 

 .To of an inch. Their mean measurement is 1.18 by .81. 



Turdus migratorius, var. confinis, Baird. 



CAFE ST. LUCAS BOBIK. 



Tardus confini^^ Baird, llt'V. Aiu. li. 18i)4, 29. — Elliut, Birds Aineiica. — Coopek, Birds 

 Cal., 9. 



Sr. Char. No. 23,7S0. Ejitirc upper parts and sides of head and neck uniform jrrayish- 

 {ush, with perliaps a taint tiufje o[' olivaceous, less than in eastern specimens of T. migra- 

 torius. The central portions of the feathers of tht; top of head are rather <larker than the 

 ed^jcs, thoujrh almost inappreeiahly so, and not impartinj^ a <;eneral dusky appearance. 

 The chin and throat are white, streaked with ashy-brown. The ju<rulum and breast are 



