ROBIN 69 



Until recently many have been killed for food, 

 although there can be scarcely three bites of 

 meat on bones so delicate; but the Government 

 has now taken the Robin under its protection, 

 making the killing of one a misdemeanor. It is 

 to be hoped that this course will result in the 

 return of large numbers of these birds to their 

 wonted habitat ; for not only are the few cherries 

 and strawberries which they eat paid for many 

 times over by the amount of noxious insect life 

 they remove, but the Rob- 

 in's song and presence is 

 a flash of joy we could ill 

 spare. 



What an active, glad- 

 some, vigorous fellow he 

 is, and how clearly and 

 fully he expresses all his <^r~ 



feelings in his various robin 



. -it r. / P Length 10 inches 



notes. No refinement 01 



musical culture, such as graces his kinsmen the 

 Thrushes, belongs to him, no elegance of gentle 

 manners ; we might say that the Wood Thrush is 

 a violinist to whose recitals we listen in admira- 

 tion, and Robin is a fiddler to whose jolly strains 

 we may dance with glee. His notes ring with 

 positive gladness; his every motion is decided 

 and free, his bearing alert and open; his presence 

 dominates the lawn or orchard. 



