THE THEUSHES 



181 



sume as food.* These birds have been specially 

 developed by Nature to combat and destroy 

 the hordes of insects destructive to fruit, grain 

 and tree life, which otherwise would in a short 

 time increase to such enormous numbers that 

 no vegetation could withstand their attacks. 



To young pupils, the Order of Perching and 

 Singing Birds may at first seem difficult to grasp ; 

 but in reality it is not. A knowledge of forty 

 birds will give one a very good idea of its various 

 Families; and any one can learn about forty 

 birds. After this Order has been mastered, all 

 others will be found quite easy. The examples 

 introduced have been selected with great care, 

 and concerning those illustrated, the pictures 

 will tell of their forms and markings far better 

 than wordy descriptions could do. 



THE THRUSH FAMILY. 



Turdidae. 



The Robin.- — All lovers of birds should agree 

 in placing this dear old friend at the head of the 

 list of the birds of this continent. This is be- 

 cause it is the highest avian type. It has typical 

 plumage, it flies well, it perches, it sings beauti- 

 fully, it migrates, and its anatomy is thoroughly 

 representative. Moreover, it quickly discerns 

 a friend and protector, and it is not driven away 

 by the English sparrow. 



Of all our birds, the Robin comes the nearest 

 to being "folks." It is always one of the first 

 birds to arrive in the spring, it remains all sum- 

 mer, and it is one of the last to depart at the ap- 

 proach of winter. Often the late spring snows 

 catch it on its early migration, and its staying 

 powers are put to the test. It is a good plan to 

 scatter food for these early birds. Nothing save 

 the sun itself is more gladdening on a raw March 

 day than the joyous note by which the Robin 

 announces the arrival of himself and spring. 



Who is there who can know the Robin and not 

 love him? Few indeed; and tho.se persons 



' Up to 1903 the Biological Survey of the United 

 States Department of Agriculture had published 

 twenty important bulletins and shorter papers on 

 the food haliits of our birds, with especial reference 

 to the species either most beneficial or most harm- 

 ful to the farmer and fruit-grower. A list of those 

 now available, and the terms on which they are 

 procurable, will be furnished by the Department 

 upon application. 



^ Me-ru'la mi-gra-to'ri-a. Length, from end of 

 beak to end of tail, 9 to 10 inches. 



around New York and in some parts of the South 

 who shoot Robins for food, are wholly unfit to 

 inhabit the Robin's country, unless they reform.^ 



The Robin is one of the sweetest and most 

 joyous songsters I know. As well try to describe 

 the glories of a sunset as to set forth in words 

 the hcjuid melody, clear and sweet, which pours 

 from his throat when he feels particularly joy- 

 ous. 



Everywhere, the Robin is a very sociable bird, 

 and exceeding quick to distinguish a friend from 

 a foe. Give it absolute protection, and security 

 from cats, and it will cheerfully nest on your win- 

 dow-sill. This is what one actually did in Buffalo, 

 under our roof, — built her nest on the sill of an 

 upper window, close against the glass, and reared 

 her brood there. We went many times to see 



M'-'J^^ 



how she was getting on, and she, knowing well 

 that glass is a barrier, permitted us to put our 

 faces within two inches of her head. 



In the Zoological Park, the Robins were the 

 first wild creatures to learn, in 1900, that the 

 reign of the poacher was over; and they quickly 

 told it to the crows, and thrushes, and other 

 birds. In an eight-foot pine-tree, that was 



' "In central Tennessee are large tracts of cedars 

 the berries of which serve to attract mvriads of 

 Kobins in the winter. One small hamlet in this dis- 

 trict sends to market annuallv enough Robins to 

 return $.500, nt five cents per dnzen, equal to 120 000 



stTnks An'^^"' '';' t!^ f "^«.^* "^y torchlight, with 

 sticks. An officer of the Louisiana Audubon Society 

 states that a conservative estimate of the number 

 annually killed m Louisiana for food purposes is I 

 quarter of nm.lhon when they are usuSlv plentiful 

 --WahamDntcheT,in Educational Leaflet W 4 of 

 the National Comrmttee of Avdubon Societies. ' 



