160 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



day and sunset. The specimens were taken from village and 

 country, and he examined the contents of their crop. He demon- 

 strated conclusively that insects injurious to vegetation consti- 

 tute the natural and preferred food of the robin, and that during 

 two-thirds of the year the bird takes no vegetable food what- 

 ever. Whenever vegetable food was found, in the body, it was 

 only in limited quantities, and mixed with insect food. This 

 was only in the months of June, July, August and September, 

 and then the vegetable products consisted mainly of elderberries 

 and pokeberries. The edible fruits destroyed were in too minute 

 quantities to warrant complaint. 



I hope that some steps may be taken by the Farmers' Club of 

 the American Institute to induce our next Legislature to enact 

 such laws as will prevent the destruction of the robin and bobo- 

 link and all other small birds that may be considered as agents 

 in destroying the numerous insects that appear to be so alarm- 

 ingly on the increase, and in consequence of this increase of 

 insects the lover of pomology and agriculture is often disheart- 

 ened from the almost total destruction of the fruit of^ his garden 

 and the promising fields of grain. The great loss sustained by 

 the country in its productions compared with the small gain of 

 the sportsman in destroying the birds should cause laws of such 

 stringency to be enacted as would prevent any further destruc- 

 tion of these birds. 



If we fail to obtain protection from our Legislature, I would 

 advise the planting of trees around our dwellings, and I should 

 recommend the evergreen being extensively planted. I have 

 hundreds of these trees planted. My neighbors have but few 

 birds near their gardens, their grounds being nearly destitute of 

 trees. Their gardens are the safe home for the insect to commit 

 its depredations. 



The evergreen is a favorite tree for these little songsters, their 

 thick boughs afi'ording them a favorite place to build their nests. 

 On one Norway spruce tree, planted out eight years ago, I 

 counted four robins' nests, the owners successfully bringing up 

 their families ; and by encouraging their familiar habits I have 

 largely increased their numbers, and the perceptible decrease of 

 insects in my garden convinces me of their great value to the 

 country. 



Solon Robinson read the following which elicited an extended 

 discussion. 



