cjtierry trees, a row of mulberry 

 trees may be planted along the bor- 

 der of the orchard. The Robins 

 prefer the mulberry to the cherry and 

 will go no farther as long as the former 

 fruit lasts. In regions where the mul- 

 berry grows, it is not an uncommon 

 sight for one of these trees to be hilled 

 with Robins when the fruit is ripe. 

 Fully twenty-five per cent of the culti- 

 vated fruits eaten are taken in June 

 and July. Wild fruits are eaten when- 

 ever they are ripe and over forty va- 

 rieties have been noted in the contents 

 of the stomachs of Robins. These wild 

 fruits are, in the main, those not gath- 

 ered by man. 



Dr. Dawson has well said: "The Rob- 

 in's song in its common form is too well 

 known to require particular description, 

 and too truly music to lend itself well 

 to syllabic imitation." Few birds have 

 a wider range of voice expression. The 

 Robin possesses a wonderful vocabu- 

 lary. Mr. Chapman calls attention to 

 the fact that "its notes express inter- 

 rogation, suspicion, alarm, caution, 

 and it signals to its companions to 

 take wing." The Robin is a ''bird of 

 the morning," and seeks the "early 

 worm" upon the lawn. "His voice rings 

 out strong and clear in the early morn- 

 ing chorus." His day is long for at 



twilight his beautiful voice may still be 

 heard though it is more subdued. Mr. 

 Parkhurst says he knows of "no other 

 bird that is able to give so many shades 

 of meaning to a single note, running 

 through the entire gamut of its possible 

 feelings. From the soft and mellow 

 quality, almost as coaxing as a dove's 

 note, with which it encourages its young 

 when just out of the nest, the tone with 

 minute gradations, becomes more ve- 

 hement, and then harsh and with quick- 

 ened reiteration, until it expresses the 

 greatest intensity of a bird's emotion. 

 Love, contentment, anxiety, exultation, 

 rage — what other bird can throw such 

 multifarious meaning into its tone? And 

 herein the Robin seems more nearly hu- 

 man than any of its kind." 



It seems strange that the faithful 

 Mother Robin is so seldom mentioned. 

 For her, he sings while she quietly per- 

 forms her duties. For her he has soft 

 and tender notes which seem almost 

 whispered. On her death his lament is 

 full of sadness. He helps her in the 

 care of the young. She is quiet and 

 unassuming, 



"Yet she is everything to Robin, 



Silent partner though she be; 

 Source and theme and inspiration 

 Of each madrigal and glee." 



Frank Morley Woodruff. 



AN AUNT JANE STORY. 



SOME CURIOUS INSECTS. 

 PART 11. 



"Now, Auntie, do begin with the 

 most curious insect there is," cried 

 Birdie, as the children gathered about 

 Aunt Jane's chair, preparatory to a sec- 

 ond talk about insects. 



"The general mechanism of insects is 

 remarkable. A little insect, not an inch 

 long, will often be found to contain 

 three hundred and six hard pieces in 

 his outer envelope, four hundred and 

 ninety-six muscles to put them in mo- 

 tion, and twenty-four pairs of trachae 



to provide air. His little gizard is pro- 

 vided with two hundred teeth, and 

 through his lightsome body there are 

 hundreds of trachae, filling it with air 

 channels — 



'The dancing grasshopper whom no care frets. 

 In the hot sunshine snaps his castanets,' 



Why, children, we could talk two 

 hours about the grasshopper! How- 

 ever, if you are anxious to hear about 

 a very curious insect, let us try the 

 Praying Mantis." 



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