26 XORTII AMERICAX IJIRDS. 



Ill autunui and winter each nitons I'oatlier beneath is bordered by a more 

 or less eonspii'.nous crescent of white ; in addition to this, most of the lighter 

 individnals (9 ;'), at this season, iiave an ashy sulVusion over the breast and 

 Hanks ; and tliis, we liave observed, is more gemu'al and more noticeable in 

 western than in eastern specimens. In fall and winter the cohtr of the bill, 

 too, chanj^es, becoming at tliis season either ])artially or wlioUy dnsivy, instead 

 of almost entirely yellow, as seen in siuiiij; and summer examples. 



^le.xican specimens, found breedinjr in tiie Al|)ine rej.;ions as far soutli 

 as Orizaba and Mirador, most r(!semble tiie western series ; one, however 

 (Xo. li(S,12(li;y , Orizaba), but in the autumnal plumage, and therefore 

 very ])o.ssilily a migrant from tlu; Xortii, is hardly distinguishable from 

 Xo. ;i2,j!()(), (Jeorgia; it is aliout identical in pr<>i)ortions, and the rntbus is 

 of a castaneous shade, like the deepest cohu'ed eastern examides ; the white 

 ti]i to the outer tail-feather is us broad ami conspicuous us is ever seen in 

 the latter. 



1I.\I!1TS. Sciircely any American bird iias a wider range of g(M)graphical 

 distribution, or is more numerous wherever found, than this thrusii. From 

 (ireenlaiid on the extreme nortlieast to the plateau of Mexico, and from 

 the Atlantic to the I'acilic, the Itobin is everywhere a very abundant sjjccies. 

 Single specimens have been obtained as far .soutli as Cohan, (Jiiatemala. Its 

 distribution in tlie breeding season is iiardly less restricted, occurring alike 

 on the .shores of the Arctic Si-as and on the high lands of Vera ("ruz. 

 In tlie winter months it is most abundant in the ''outhern States, while 

 in tlie Middle and even the Xortliern States, in favorable localities, it 

 may be found throughout the year; its migrations being influenced more 

 by tiie (inestion of food than of climate. In the valleys among tiie White 

 i\Ionntains, where snow covers the ground from Octol)er to June, and where 

 tiie "old reaches the freezing-point of mercury. Hocks of the IJobin remain 

 during tlie entire winter, attracted liy the abundance of berries. 



On the I'acitic Coast the llobin is only a winter visitant in Caliibrnia; a 

 very few remaining to breed, and tliost^ only among the hills. They reach 

 A'ancouver Lsland early in ^larch, and are very aliundant. 



la New Kngland, where the llobiiis aic held in great esteem, ami where 

 they exist under very favonible circumstances, their numbers have very 

 largely increased, especially in the villages. They cause not a little annoy- 

 ance to fruit cultivators hy their depredations ii])on the productions of tlie 

 garden, especially cherries and strawberries. They arc^ a vorai'ious bird, and 

 no doulit destroy a large (luantity of small fruit, but there is abundant evi- 

 dence that this is more than compensated by ihv'w destruction of the mo.st 

 injurious insects, upon wliicii they wage an incessant war. The investiga- 

 tions of Mr. .1. W. r. .leiiks and I'rofessiir Treadwell liiitablish conclusively 

 their great .services in this direction. 



The exjieriments of the latter gentleman show that the nestlings of the 

 Itobiii rei|uire a vast amount of animal food, forty p(>r cent more tliaii their 



