ROBINS 359 



Petit Bois Island, February 13, 1912, only about 10 were seen. 

 In the big swamps about Nigger Lake, on the lower Tensaw 

 River, they were abundant in early December, 1915. Holt 

 found them common in the swamps at Carlton in early March, 

 1912, and numerous also in the Talladega Mountains, near 

 Dean, March 14-21, 1912 ; Graves reported robins present in 

 large numbers on Sand Mountain (near Carpenter) in Jan- 

 uary, 1915. Brannon states that the northward migration 

 took place at Montgomery in 1921 during the latter part of 

 February.* About 10 birds were seen at Dothan, March 13, 

 and single individuals at Squaw Shoals, April 11, and Au- 

 taugaville, April 17 (1912). Some of these may have been 

 of the southern race (achrusterus) . 



Specimens of the northern form (migratorius) have been 

 examined irom Orange Beach (January 27) ; Carlton (March 

 1) ; Uniontown (March 1) ; Auburn (March 6) ; and Ardell 

 (April 1). 



General habits. — ^The robin is one of the most characteristic 

 and widely distributed winter birds of the South. It occurs 

 in loose, straggling flocks, frequenting pastures, hedgerows, 

 clumps of cedars, and in particular wooded swamps, where an 

 abundance of wild berries may be found. During fall and 

 winter the swamps attract them most and in the big swamps 

 of the lower Tensaw River, in December, they are so numerous 

 as to be constantly in sight, their combined calls, conversa- 

 tional chatterings, and half -suppressed songs filling the som- 

 ber woods with life and good cheer. Later in the season, when 

 the supply of berries is considerably reduced, they frequent 

 plowed lands and pastures and pick up quantities of insects 

 and earthworms. The notes of the robin are varied, the most 

 familiar one being the loud, angry pimp, uttered when the nest 

 is disturbed. The song is a strong, clear, resonant warble, 

 full of cheer arid inspiration. 



Food habits. — In the South, the robin feeds very largely 

 upon wild fruits and berries, including china berries, persim- 

 mons, hackberries, holly berries, cedar berries, and the fruit 

 of the greenbrier, Virginia creeper, black gum, and sumac. 



•Brannon, P. A., The Auk, voL 38, p. 464, 1921. 



