42 Land Birds of New England 



ing, to return again at nightfall. Of these so-called 

 " robin roosts " a large one exists in Melrose. 



The nest is built in very various places; shrubs, 

 vines, and trees, especially evergreens. Sometimes 

 not more than three feet from the ground, it has 

 been known to be as much as fifty. Eggs are laid 

 about the first of May, and there are two, or even 

 three sets. 



The notes are all simple, but various, so that one 

 can tell a robin's song rather by the quality of the 

 voice than by the exact notes. The bird usually 

 chooses the very top of the tree for- his stage, and 

 sings as energetically in cloudy and even rainy 

 weather as in the sunshine. His song has been 

 thus paraphrased : 



" In the sunshine and the rain 

 I hear the robin in the lane 

 Singing, ' Cheerily, 

 Cheer up, cheer up, 

 Cheerily, cheerily, cheer up? " 



Bicknell states that in the vicinity of New York 

 robins often do not begin to sing until some time 

 after their arrival. Song continues until mid-July, 

 and with waning vigor through August. September 

 is a silent month ; but the heart to sing comes back 

 with its closing day, and the robin is nearly as 

 tuneful in October as in the spring. 



