ABOUT HOME 11 



9. The Robin. Merula migratoria. 



MATERIAL: If possible, mounted robin or colored picture; nest of 

 previous season, but well preserved. Pupils must have observed out- 

 doors : Arrival of robins, building of nests, song, and food. 



NOTE TO TEACHER. For your own information about birds, con- 

 sult : 



Mabel 0. Wright. Birdcraft : A field-book of two hundred Song, 



Game, and Water Birds. 

 Grant. Our Common Birds, and How to Know Them. 



The report on the birds of your state, if one has been published. 



Who of us has not been happy, when, in the latter part of 

 March, he saw a robin perched on the top of a tree and was 

 charmed by its cheerful song, which seemed to assure him 

 that spring has actually arrived? As the harbinger of 

 spring, we all love the robin. 



From the tip of his bill to the end of his tail he measures 

 about ten inches. His yellow bill contrasts strongly with 

 the black head and olive-gray back. His tail is black, but 

 we know him best by his brick-red breast, which has earned 

 him the name of Robin Redbreast. If you have sharp eyes, 

 you will detect that in the fall our robin assumes a paler 

 garb, as very many birds do. The female robin is always 

 paler in color than the male. Can you distinguish male and 

 female of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak and the Scarlet 

 Tanager ? Is it of any advantage to female birds not to 

 have as bright a plumage as the males ? Compare the color 

 of males and females among our domestic fowls. 



Very early in the morning, before sunrise, the robin be- 

 gins his song, together with many other birds. He con- 

 tinues to sing until about the middle of July. Mrs. Wright 

 has translated his song into words. She hears him say, 

 " Cheerily, cheerily, cheer up, cheer up ! " or, " Do you 

 think what you do, do you think what you do, do you 

 thi-n-k ? " How would you put his song into words ? 



