THE FOOD OF ROBINS 263 



do, but never once have I succeeded. Evidently my objec- 

 tives never were focussed just right for worms in green grass. 



The enactment of the federal migratory bird law now will 

 enable the Government to stop the slaughter of Robins in the 

 South for food, but in the North we must watch sharply and 

 continuously to guard our Robins from the alien killers and 

 eaters of song-birds that have come to us from Europe. 



In the "grape belt" of western New York, Robins are a 

 great annoyance to some grape-growers because of the bunches 

 they disfigure. Elsewhere they are of great benefit to farmers, 

 and the few cherries they take in cherry -time are very modest 

 compensation for the noxious grubs they pick out of the freshly 

 ploughed fields. 



The investigations of the Biological Survey of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture have demonstrated the great economic 

 value of the Robin as a destroyer of harmful insects. The 

 contents of three hundred and thirty stomachs of birds taken 

 in all seasons revealed the fact that, in the course of the entire 

 year, insects make up 40 per cent of the food of Robins, wild 

 fruit 43 per cent, cultivated fruit 8 per cent, and miscellane- 

 ous vegetable food 5 per cent. 



Regarding the killing of Robins, and other song-birds, 

 and also doves, as food for man in a land of plenty, there can- 

 not be two opinions. It is not necessary; it is not "sport"; 

 it is very injurious to our farmers and fruit-growers, and en- 

 tirely reprehensible. No self-respecting boy or man can be 

 guilty of such wrong-doing; no civilized community should 

 tolerate it for one moment, and no farmer can afford to permit 

 it! I would rather that any friend of mine should be caught 



