THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. 401 



The RED-WINGED THRUSH (760. Turdus iliacus), a European species, is of 

 accidental occurrence in Greenland. 



761. Merula migratoria (Linn.). AMERICAN ROBIN. (See Fig. 

 59, a.) Ad. $ . Top and sides of the head black, a white spot above the eye ; 

 rest of the upper parts grayish slate-color; margins of wings slightly lighter; 

 tail black, the outer feathers with white spots at their tips; throat white, 

 spotted with black; rest of the under parts rufous (tipped with white in the 

 fall), becoming white on the middle of the lower belly. Ad. 9 . Similar, but 

 back of head tipped with grayish ; back, tail, and under parts lighter. Young 

 in nestling plumage. Back and under parts spotted with black. L., 1OOO ; 

 W.,4-96; T.,3-87; B., -84. 



Range. " Eastern North America to the Rocky Mountains, including east- 

 ern Mexico and Alaska. Breeds from near the southern border of the United 

 States northward to the arctic coast; winters from southern Canada and the 

 Northern States (irregularly) southward " (A. O. U.). 



Washington, rather common S. R., abundant T. V., from Feb. to Apl. ; 

 irregularly common W. V. Sing Sing, common S. R., Mch. 4 to Oct. 30 ; a few 

 winter. Cambridge, very abundant S. R., common but irregular W. V. 



Nest, of coarse grasses, leaves, rootlets, etc., with an inner wall of mud and 

 lining of fine grasses, most frequently in fruit or shade trees, five to thirty feet 

 up. Eggs, three to five, greenish blue, very rarely with brownish markings, 

 1-14 x -bO. 



While the few Robins that have the courage to winter with us are 

 seeking protection from chilling winds in the depths of friendly ever- 

 greens, their comrades who extended their journey to the south are 

 holding carnival under sunny skies. In Florida, during the winter, 

 Robins may be found in enormous flocks, feeding on the berries of the 

 China tree, holly, and mistletoe. Occasionally they give voice to a 

 half-suppressed chorus, as though rehearsing for the approaching 

 season of song. 



Robins migrate in flocks, and the arrival of the advance guard 

 makes the dreariest March day seem bright. It is a question whether 

 these pioneers are summer residents or transients en route to a more 

 northern summer home, but in my experience they make the sunny 

 side of some woods their headquarters and remain there until paired. 

 They are then in full song, and we see them in their accustomed haunts 

 about our lawns and orchards. 



Toward the last of June the young of the first brood, with the old 

 males; resort in numbers nightly to a roosting place. These roosts are 

 generally in deciduous second growths, usually in low, but sometimes 

 on high ground. The females are now occupied with the cares of a 

 second family, and the males are said to return each day to assist them 

 in their duties.* 



* See studies of Robins' roosts, by William Brewster, in Auk. x, 1890, pp. 

 360-373, and Bradford Torrey in The Foot-path Way, 1892, pp. 153-175. 

 27 



