GAY PLUMES AND DULL 



that if, retaining the same habits, they were scarlet, 

 or white, or indigo, they would be just as numerous 

 as they are now. The robin is a wide, free feeder, 

 boring in the turf for grubs and worms in summer, 

 and taking up with cedar berries and hardback 

 drupes in winter. If a crop of locusts come in cherry 

 time, he will spare your cherries. If a drouth drives 

 the angleworms deep into the ground in August, 

 look out for your grapes. The robin is wonderfully 

 adaptive. If he does not find a tree to his liking, 

 he will nest on the wall, or under your porch, or 

 even on the ground. His colors are not brilliant, 

 but the secret of his success lies in his courage, his 

 force of character, so to speak, and his adaptability. 

 His European cousin, the blackbird, is less pro- 

 tectively colored, but is of similar habits and dis- 

 position, and seems to thrive equally well. Again, 

 contrast the Baltimore oriole with the orchard 

 oriole. If there is anything in protective color, the 

 more soberly colored bird has greatly the advantage, 

 and yet the more brilliant species is far more abun- 

 dant. The strong contrast of black and orange 

 which the brilliant coats present does not seem to 

 have lessened their wearers' chances of survival. 

 Their pendent nests, beyond the reach of weasels 

 and squirrels and snakes and crows, are no doubt 

 greatly in their favor, but still more so, I believe, 

 are their feeding habits. Compared with the orchard 

 oriole, they are miscellaneous feeders; insects and 

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