BIRDS OP PENNSYLVANIA. 



225 



age in this way is trifling at most, and wholly inconsiderable in com- 

 parison with the great benefit resulting from the destruction of nox- 

 ious insects by this bird. The prejudice which some persons enter- 

 tain against the Kobin is unreasonable ; the wholesale slaughter of 

 the birds which annually takes place in many localities, is as sense- 

 less as it is cruel. Few persons have any adequate idea of the enor- 

 mous, the literally incalcuable, numbers of insects that Robins eat 

 every year. It has been found, by careful and accurate observations, 

 that a young Eobin, in the nest, requires a daily supply of animal 

 food equivalent to considerable more than its own weight. When we 

 remember that some millions of pairs of Robins raise five or six young 

 ones once, twice, or even three times a year, it will be seen that the 

 resulting destruction of insects is. as I have said, incalculable. I have 

 no doubt that the services of these birds, during the time they are en- 

 gaged in rearing their young alone, would entitle them to protection, 

 were the parents themselves to feed exclusively upon garden-fruits 

 for the whole period. But at this time the diet of the old birds is very 

 largely of an animal nature * nor is this the only season during which 

 the destruction of insects goes on. Upon the first arrival of the main 

 body of the birds early in the spring, long before any fruits are ripe, 

 they throw themselves into newly-plowed fields, and scatter over 

 meadows, lawns and parks, in eager search for the worms and grubs 

 that, later in the season, would prove invincible to the agriculturist 

 were not their ravages thus stayed in advance by the friendly army 

 of Robins." 



