iioiu.\. 5 



lookout for amateur odlogists, and the disappointed youngster is forced to take to his heels or 

 pay the penalty of the law. 



Many a zealous student of ornithology has been brought to grief by the noisy outbreak 

 of this bird. Perhaps he is quietly passing a farmhouse, gun in hand, bound for a favorite 

 collecting ground in search of some wm-o/'/x. Near the premises he chances to brush against a 

 bush in which a favorite Robin has a nest; she instantly springs off with the usual loud cries 

 of distress. Up goes the window, and out pops the head of the worthy dame, to see what is 

 troubling her pet. Her eye falls on the man with the gun, and she instantly ti.xes upon him 

 as the offender, and with a tongue sharpened by constant exercise, she belabors him without 

 mercy, threatening him with all sorts of dire calamities because of his propensity to shoot 

 Robins. Attempted explanations only call forth a fresh attack, and he is obliged to beat an 

 inglorious retreat. 



The food of these birds consists in a great measure of insects, especially during that part 

 of the year when they are rearing their young. As much has been said upon this subject, 

 expressing contrary opinions, I offer the result of my observations. Out of seven Robins 

 dissected in April, the stomachs of but three contained vegetable food to the exclusion of 

 insects ; all the others were filled with grubs, beetles, other insects and, earthworms. The 

 stomachs of the three of which I have spoken contained dried barberries. These birds were shot 

 in early April, when the ground was partially frozen. The stomachs of birds shot in June all 

 contained wire worms or beetles ; in only one instance! was there any addition to this food, then 

 I found a few currants. In July I found the same food, excepting the currants, and with the 

 addition of grasshoppers. In August and September their stomachs exhibited about an equal 

 proportion of insects, cherries and berries. In but two instances out of seven did I find that the 

 latter articles of diet were taken to the exclusion of the insect food. October and November 

 finds them feeding upon worthless berries. What few remain in Xew England during winter 

 subsist upon the berries of the mountain ash, the savin and the cedar. 



In spite of this array of facts in favor of their destroying insects injurious to the husbandman, 

 ib cannot be denied that they are very great nuisances to those who raise -small fruits; for 

 they are persistent thieves, and scarcely anything will prevent their ravages upon cherries. 

 They will frequently alight upon a tree in which a man is seated, and after coolly selecting a ripe 

 cherry fly away with it. I do not hesitate to say, however, that upon the whole the Robin is 

 beneficial to man. We know that if it were not for the birds man could not exist ; his insect 

 enemies would overpower him; therefore, if we destroy one species of beneficial bird, we 

 destroy a portion of our natural protectors. On the other hand, if the birds were allowed to 

 increase as rapidly as they would if none met with violent deaths, the world would become filled 

 with them in a few years, to the exclusion of man and every other living creature. From these 

 arguments we may infer that it is wiser to let nature take her course without interference, as 

 she has done since the creation, as in the great struggle for life one species will prevent the too 

 rapid increase of another, which in its turn will be checked by a third, and so on through all 

 stages of animal life up to man, the general enemy of them all. 



The Robins breed in Xew England from April 15th to July 15th, commonly raising two 

 and even three broods in a season. I have never found them breeding in Florida, but have been 

 informed that they remain through the summer in some localities. This species is subject to 

 albinism, and it is not uncommon to see a pied or white specimen. This is owing to a diseased 

 condition of the feathers or to extreme old age, when the bird seems to lose the power of 

 moulting; then the feathers become nearly white ; I have taken a specimen in this condition 

 that was nesting. They live to a good old age: a specimen taken when young and kept in 

 confinement by my friend, Mr. L. L. Thaxter, lived over ten years. Early in life it lost an eye 

 by an attack from a cat, yet it appeared lively and happy until its death, which resulted from age. 



