Nests in Trees, Bushes, or Vines 



nearly white, spotted and streaked with very dark slate 

 colour ; breast and sides chestnut ; belly white. 



Adult 9 — Less decided in colour, the head being dark slate colour. 

 Length — lo.oo. 



Breeding Range — Throughout the Eastern States, from Virginia and 

 Kansas northward. 



The nest, which is very bulky and sometimes rough in appear- 

 ance, is formed of leaves, roots, and grasses (sometimes entirely 

 of grass and mud), plastered together with an inner wall of mud, 

 lined with fine grass. It is placed either on a branch or in a 

 crotch at from four to thirty-five feet from the ground. The eggs 

 are of a beautiful pale greenish blue, giving the name to the colour 

 known as "robin's egg blue." Number of eggs, from 3 to 5. 

 Size — 1. 1 5 X .80. See Fig. 10, Plate D. 



During the breeding season the robins Sre probably the best 

 known of our Eastern birds, as they build their nests quite fre- 

 quently in the vines that grow on our verandas, and in the shrubs 

 around the house. They do not then appear to fear man, and 

 will perform their various domestic duties within a few feet of the 

 onlooker. It is always interesting to watch the parent birds feed- 

 ing their ever-hungry young; from early morn till nearly dark 

 they keep up an almost incessant search for worms, which form 

 the principal diet of the young. Owing to the size and to its 

 being generally placed in a conspicuous situation, the robin's nest 

 is by no means difficult to find. They usually build near cultiva- 

 tion, probably because they find it easier to obtain their supply 

 of worms. The nest may be found in almost any sort of tree 

 along the roadside, or on the outskirts of *a wood. An apple 

 orchard is an almost sure place, especially so if the trees be old. 



The young leave the nest when about eleven days old. If 

 taken even before they can fly, they are remarkably wild. In 

 trying to photograph them I have experienced the utmost dif- 

 ficulty, as it is almost impossible to induce them to remain on a 

 branch, or, in fact, in any place one may select. I know of no 

 young birds that are so difficult to tame, except, perhaps, the vari- 

 ous other varieties of thrushes. They appear to be delicate and 

 are not easily reared. 



The nesting season begins about the middle of April, and 

 continues until well into July. 



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