GATHERED BY THE WAY 
ing of had a nest of young in a maple near by, and 
she worked the neighborhood very industriously 
for food. She would run along over the short grass 
after the manner of robins, stopping every few feet, 
her form stiff and erect. Now and then she would 
suddenly bend her head toward the ground and bring 
eye or ear for a moment to bear intently upon it. 
Then she would spring to boring the turf vigorously 
with her bill, changing her attitude at each stroke, 
alert and watchful, throwing up the grass roots and 
little jets of soil, stabbing deeper and deeper, grow- 
ing every moment more and more excited, till finally 
a fat grub was seized and brought forth. Time after 
time, during several days, I saw her mine for grubs 
in this way and drag them forth. How did she know 
where to drill? The insect was in every case an 
inch below the surface. Did she hear it gnawing the 
roots of the grasses, or did she see a movement in the 
turf beneath which the grub was at work? I know 
not. I only know that she struck her game uner- 
ringly each time. Only twice did I see her make a 
few thrusts and then desist, as if she had been for 
the moment deceived. 
How pugnacious the robin is! With what spunk 
and spirit he defends himself against his enemies! 
Every spring I see the robins mobbing the blue jays 
that go sneaking through the trees looking for eggs. 
The crow blackbirds nest in my evergreens, and 
there is perpetual war between them and the robins. 
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