92 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS. 



Robin. Planesticm migratorius migratorius . 



The robin is an abundant migrant and a common winter resident 

 but occurs in summer only in the northern part of the State and 

 nowhere very commonly. It is reported as breeding rarely at Clinton 

 and Newport, and I found it in small numbers at Pettigrew, Chester, 

 Conway, and Mammoth Spring. It is reported also from Hot Springs, 

 but must be very rare, as I saw none in the mountains west of there in 

 Montgomery and Polk Counties. Mrs. Stephenson states that only 

 once has a pair remained during the summer at Helena. Young birds 

 were seen at Delight in July, probably stragglers from their nesting 

 grounds farther north. In winter it occurs in roving flocks, having 

 been reported from Stuttgart (Hollister), Fayetteville, Judsonia, Tur- 

 rell, Clinton, Helena, and Van Buren (rare). Breeding specimens of 

 the northern form have been examined from Mammoth Spring and 

 one winter specimen from Van Buren. Nearly half the robin's food 

 for the entire year consists of insects, mainly beetles, grasshoppers, 

 and caterpillars. The remainder is made up chiefly of wild fruits, 

 which are eaten extensively during the fall and winter months and to 

 a less extent at other seasons. In early summer, robins take consider- 

 able cultivated fruit, particularly cherries, but the damage done is 

 rarely sufficient to warrant the wholesale destruction of the birds. 

 The wild fruits eaten include cherries, grapes, huckleberries, hack- 

 berries, persimmons, and the fruit of the sumac, dogwood, green- 

 brier, holly, and elder. 



Southern Robin. Planesticus migratorius achrusterus. 

 The southern form of the robin is probably of accidental occurrence 

 in Arkansas. The only record from the State is that of a single bird 

 taken by Mr. G. Dallas Hanna at Van Buren, December 17, 1910. 



Bluebird. Sialia sialis. 

 The familiar bluebird is abundant in both summer and winter. It 

 nests in hollow trees or fence posts, but is domestic in its habits, and 

 readily adopts for its use nest boxes placed on poles or about farm 

 buildings. It is reported as breeding at Fayetteville, Clinton, New- 

 port, and Helena. I found it common at practically every locality 

 visited, including Lake City, Wilmot, Eldorado, Rich Mountain, Pet- 

 tigrew, and Conway. In winter it is reported as abundant at Para- 

 gould, 1 Fayetteville, Helena, Judsonia (Reynolds), and Van Buren. 

 A study of the food habits of this bird has shown it to be highly bene- 

 ficial. Three-fouths of its food consists of insects, mainly beetles, 

 grasshoppers, and caterpillars. Practically no cultivated fruit is 

 eaten, but a great variety of seeds and wild berries, such as black- 

 berries, cedar berries, and chokeberries, and seeds of the greenbrier, 

 Virginia creeper, holly, mistletoe, and sumac. 2 



i Gault, B. T., Nidiologist, III, p. 84, 1896. 



2Beal ; F. E. L., Farmers' Bui. 54, U. S. Dept. Agric, pp. 46, 47, 1004. 



