FOOD OF WEST VIRGINIA BIBDS 73 



eaten regularly and moderately, and the total for the season was 3.74 

 per cent of the whole food." In my own observations on the fruit-eating 

 habits of this species I have found that it is not so fond of certain kinds 

 of wild fruits as many of our birds are. In, June and July of the past 

 summer this species was observed eating raspberries at French Creek, 

 and at Philippi; on July 20, 21, it was observed feeding freely upon the 

 fruit of the wild mulberry. 



The Robin. 



The Robin is another one of our Thrushes that is of very great 

 economic importance. In the spring and fall this well-known bird is 

 found in great numbers as the large flocks of migrants pass us by going 

 to, and coming from, their northern nesting grounds. Large numbers 

 remain here in the summer to breed, and may be said to be one of our 

 most common summer birds. A few are to be found in the winter and 

 occasionally very large flocks are seen in the very coldest parts of 

 the year. Last year (1914-1915) immense numbers of these birds spent 

 the winter at Beckley, Raleigh County. In a letter from Dr. U. G. 

 Cook I find this important information, as set forth in the following 

 quotation from him. "I do not think it an exaggeration to say that 

 a million Robins roost among the pines that are on the outskirts of Beck- 

 ley. As the snow clears away they come down in innumerable flocks upon 

 the bare ground seeking food." Though usually rare in winter, the Robin 

 is with us during the greater part of the year and his place in the 

 economy of nature is set forth in the following notes in regard to his 

 food. 



The Food of the Robin. 



The appetites of Robins seems to be especially good and they devour 

 great quantities of insect and vegetable food. I have seen Robins 

 eat until they seemed to be stupid from their gluttony. At times they 

 eat certain varieties of wild fruit in great quantities. So freely do they 

 feed upon the first-ripe sweet cherries that their seputations are frequently 

 ruined among fruit-growers and some of these valuable and beautiful 

 birds are killed in consequence. But just as voraciously as they feed 

 upon our early sweet cherries so do they feed upon certain of our harm- 

 ful insects. It has been determined that the insect food of the Robin 

 constitutes about 42% of the total food. This 42% is made up as follows: 

 Beetles, 19%; Grasshoppers, 10%; Caterpillars, 6%; and other insects, 

 7%. Some of the insects, though very few, which the Robin eats, are 

 beneficial. It is safe to say, however, that about one-third of the entire 

 food of this familiar Thrush is made up of harmful insects. 



About 4% of the Robin's food is cultivated fruit, and about 47'% 

 consists of wild fruits of many kinds. During the past summer I have 

 found this bird feeding upon the following wild varieties of fruit: Wild 

 Mulberry, Service-berry, Blackberry, Red Elderberry, Bird Cherry, 

 Ilex mollis (Holly), Common Elderberry, Pokeberry, Flowering Dog- 

 wood, Virginia Creeper, Mountain Ash, Black Haw, Black Gum and 



