BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 327 



This Hermit Thrush is the most abundant of all the thrushes except 

 the American Robin. During- the spring- and fall migrations this bird 

 is much more abundant than at other times. During mild winters a few 

 of these thrushes are seen in sheltered localities in the southern parts 

 of our state. This species, it is stated, breeds sparingly in some of our 

 higher mountainous districts. 



GENUS MERULA LEACH. 

 Merula migratoria (LINN.). 



American Robin. 



DESCRIPTION {Plate 40, old and young). 



Length about 9^ ; extent about 16 inches ; bill yellow, upper mandible tipped with 

 black ; iris brown ; legs and feet brownish ; above plain grayish, blackish on head, 

 tail and sides of neck ; lower parts reddish-brown, paler in female; lower part of 

 belly, anal region and under tail-coverts white ; some specimens have under tail- 

 coverts spotted with grayish-brown ; outer tail feathers tipped with white ; young 

 are spotted above and below. 



Habitat. Eastern North America to Rocky mountains, including eastern 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 (irregu- 

 larly) southward. 



This familiar bird is abundant throughout the state during the spring, 

 summer and autumn. In the winter months it is not uncommon to find 

 small flocks about cedar thickets, swamps and other well-sheltered lo- 

 calities, especially in the southern parts of the state. At times, other 

 than when breeding, Robins are gregarious. Late in the summer and 

 autumn they collect in good-sized flocks and repair every evening to 

 some favorite roosting resort, where they are found often in company 

 with Cowbirds and Purple Grackles. The Robin seems in no way par- 

 ticular about the site selected for its bulky nest of mud, leaves, dried 

 grasses, etc. Although it usually builds in a tree, it frequently nests, 

 under an overhanging bank along the roadside, or under a porch, and 

 occasionally on fence-rails. In May, 1880, a friend of mine found, near 

 West Chester, a nest of this bird built on the ground in the middle of a 

 woods, and concealed by May-apple plants. The eggs, usually four or 

 five in number, are light bluish-green, and measure about 1.16 long by 

 .79 wide. With us at least two broods are raised each season. By 

 farmers and fruit growers the Robin is very generally regarded as a nui- 

 sance, because of his fondness for various small fruits. The following 

 notes and remarks on the food, it is hoped, will suffice to show that this 

 species is at least somewhat beneficial to the agriculturist and pomolo- 

 gist, even though it will, at certain periods of the year, subsist largely 

 on a fruit diet : In the early part of June, 1879, twenty-three Robins were 

 captured, on the same date, in East Bradford, Pa. The birds were 



