AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 241 



Robin Feeding Young: On one occasion I noticed a mother robin 

 and two of her young on the ground under a large pine tree. She was 

 busily engaged in feeding them, and it did not take long to see that 

 one of the brood was much more advanced and understood things bet- 

 ter. Presently it began searching for food on its own account and suc- 

 ceeded quite well, but the interesting part was that it began to feed its 

 feebler nest-mate in the same manner as the mother did, and continued 

 to do so as long as I watched them. A good illustration of how close- 

 ly parents are imitated, in the bird world as well as among human be- 

 ings. Presently a red squirrel came down the tree, and its advent 

 upon the scene excited the robin's ire and she immediately gave chase. 

 The squirrel had the advantage, however, as it ran around the trunk in 

 spiral fashion, while the robin was obliged to keep poised in the air. 

 Soon after this latter incident, the birds flew away. 



Song Sparrow: Early one spring while strolling through a clearing 



close by a brook, the writer discovered the nest of a Song Sparrow in 



a brush pile; it contained two eggs. Upon visiting the nest again a 



day or so later, two additional eggs had been deposited, and upon 



making a third call some time afterwards, the nest contained four 



young. On my return trip, the mother bird was sitting on the edge of 



the nest in the act of feeding the young. Upon approaching closer, 



she surprised me by remaining there, and I advanced near enough to 



place my hand upon her, still she refused to leave her precious little 



ones, but sat perfectly motionless, with the exception of a slight quiver 



of the eye. She remained in this position until I had retreated a good 



distance from the little home, evidently to make sure that no harm was 



intended. Here indeed was a striking instance of the protecting care 



and filial devdtion shown by our birds towards their young. 



Berton Mercer. 



DOVEKIE. 



A. O U Xo. 34. (AUeaUe.) 



RANGE. 



Breeds on the coasts and islands of the extreme North Atlantic, and 

 winters on the Atlantic coast as far south as New Jersey. Sometimes, 

 but rarely, found inland where they are driven by severe storms. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length, 8.5 in.; extent, 15.5 in.; tail, 1.5 in. Eyes, brown; bill and 

 feet, black. Adults in summer: — Upper parts, head and neck, black; 

 under parts, white, with the longer feathers of the flanks sometimes 



