ALBINO ROBINS AT NOTRE DAME 157 
Albino Robins at Notre Dame. 
BY BROTHER ALPHONSUS, C. S. C. 
The robin seems to be a species in which albinos are not 
uncommon. Within the past six years there have appeared in 
the South Bend area two complete albino robins, and two that 
were partial albinos. These birds naturally attracted the at- 
tention of every one who visited the regions where they were 
staying. 
The first white robin to be seen at Notre Dame was in the 
month of July, 1915. This bird, which made its home in the 
vicinity of the Grotto, was probably an old one, for no per- 
son had observed the parents feeding it at any time. In fact, 
this albino seemed to be looked upon by the other birds as an - 
intruder, and was persecuted by them. It remained near the 
Grotto about a month, and then disappeared. 
The color of this albino was not snow-white, but was of a 
less intense quality. It was, however, entirely white, and 
made a pretty picture when seen on the lawn or in the mul- 
berry trees near the Grotto. These trees, no doubt, were what 
attracted the bird to the spot during the time the berries 
were ripe. 
“In the spring of 1920 a partial albino robin was. observed 
on the grounds at Notre Dame near the Community House. 
A similar specimen was seen in the same place in the spring 
of 1921. This circumstance would seem to point to the fact 
that the identical bird of 1920 returned again in 1921. My 
observations of this robin were not extensive enough to as- 
certain whether or not it breeded here either year. Whenever 
I saw the bird it was alone. 
On July 5, 1921, Mr. W. H. Woollums of South Bend, Indi- 
ana, came to Notre Dame to acquaint the writer of the 
presence of a white robin, which, he said, had been hatched 
in a tree near his home in River Side Park. Mr. Woolums 
invited me to go with him to see this albino robin, and I did so 
the following day. 
