186 



AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



Even before the first brood was ready to leave the nest, 'the parent 

 birds had commenced the foundations of another nest in a tree not 

 sixty feet from the first one. 



It is a popular idea that birds and mammals perform everything- 

 through a mechanical instinct. That however I do not believe. 



When the pair of Robins of which I am speaking, built their first nest 

 under the eaves of the porch, they used almost a superabundance of 

 mud and literally plastered the nest in place. But I noticed that in 

 building the second nest, which was placed in the branches of a tree, 

 not more than half the mud was used, it not being necessary. 



All this goes to show that birds must use some reason in the con- 

 struction of their homes. 



It is said that Robins sometimes raise three broods of young birds a 

 year. This' pair did not. After the second brood had acquired the 

 ability to hunt their own living, I was surprised to see that both broods, 

 together with the parent birds, stayed around our yard all the rest of 

 that summer and late into the fall. 



It was a bright day in April when the parent birds came, and it was 

 a bright day late in September, when together with their two families,^ 

 they joined a roving flock of their kind and started on their joui^ney 

 toward the land where the sun always shines. And I was sorry to see- 

 them go. 



MOTHER ROBIN AND YOUNG. 



Photo byEL. S. Horton. 



