70 NEW- YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



GENUS MERULA. Ray. 



Bill, moderate or short, rather robust, straight. Feet long, somewhat robust. Third and 

 fourth quills longest. Tail moderately long, even. 



THE AMERICAN ROBIN. 



Merula migratoria. 



plate xxxviii. fig. 83. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



T. migratorius, Linn.eus. Wilson, Am.Om, Vol. 1 p. 35, pl.2, fig.2. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 75. 

 American Robin, or Migratory Thrush. Nuttall, Man. Ora. Vol. 1, p. 338, figure. Audubon, folio pi. 131 ; Om. 



Biog. Vol. 2, p. 190, and Vol. 5, p. 442. 

 Merula migratoria. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 176. 

 Robin, or Migratory Thrush. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 3, p. 14, pi. 142. 

 . Reb-breasted or Migratory Thrush. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 86.- - 



Characteristics. Dark greyish ; beneath reddish. Head and tiil black ; the latter with 

 the two exterior feathers white at the inner tip. Length, 9£ inches. 



Description. Throat, and a few spots occasionally forming a ring around the eyes, white. 

 Bill yellow. Beneath reddish, more or less deep according to the season of the year ; abdo- 

 men white. Throat whitish, thickly streaked with black. All above a dark dull greyish 

 brown. Young, pale reddish beneath, thickly spotted with black. , 



Length, 9-0-10-0. 



This familiar species is a resident in this State throughout the year, and those which thus 

 remain probably advance farther north to breed. The eggs are from 4-6, bluish green, un- 

 spotted. They feed on worms, insects, berries and fruits, and range from the equator to the 

 67th degree of north latitude. Its popular name was given to it by the early English colo- 

 nists, from its supposed resemblance to the S. rubicola or Robin Redbreast of Europe. 



