498 THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. 



brownish in fall. Im. females average paler below and with less black on 

 the head, but fully adult birds are as richly colored as the brightest males. 

 Nestling. Back and underparts spotted with black. L., lO'OO; W., 4'96; T., 

 3'87; B., '84. 



Range. N. A. Breeds from limit of trees in nw. Alaska, to n. Ungava, 

 and N. F. s. to Cook Inlet, Alaska, cen. Alberta, se. Wyo., Kans., Ills., Ind., 

 Ohio, Pa., N. J., and in the Alleghanies to N. C.; winters from cen. Kans., 

 Ohio valley, and N. J. (irregularly further n.) to the Gulf coast and Fla., 

 and to Nuevo Leon, Mex. ; accidental in Bermuda and Cuba. 



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

 irregularly common W. V. Ossining, common S. R., Mch. 4-Oct. 30; a few 

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

 N. Ohio, abundant S. R., Feb. 26-Nov. 30; a few winter. Glen Ellyn, very 

 common S. R., rare W. V., Jan. 25-Nov. 19. SE. Minn., common S. R., 

 rare W. V., Mch. 8-Nov. 11. 



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, 5-30 feet 

 up. Eggs, 3-5, greenish blue, very rarely with brownish markings, 1*14 X '80. 

 Date, New York City, Apl. 20; Cambridge, Apl. 25; se. Minn., Apl. 28. 



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. 



Early in September, when the nesting season is over, Robins gather 

 in large flocks, and from this time until their departure for the south, 

 roam about the country in search of food, taking in turn wild cher- 

 ries, dogwood and cedar berries. 



The songs and call-notes of the Robin, while well known to every 

 one, are in reality understood by no one, and offer excellent subjects 

 for the student of bird language. Its notes express interrogation, sus- 

 picion, alarm, caution, and it signals to its companions to take wing; 

 indeed, few of our birds have a more extended vocabulary. 



1890. BREWSTER, W., Auk, X, 360-373 (summer roosts). 1892. 

 TORREY, B., Foot-path Way, 153-175 (summer roosts). 1895. WIDMANN, O., 



