1878. ] The Robin's Food. 451 
By the second week in July the supply of “June bugs” 
becoming scarce, I had to seek some new edible for my charge. 
As cherries were abundant I fed him upon this delectable fruit; 
when hungry he would eat them greedily, but they did not 
_ Seem to appease his appetite, and were speedily rejected when a 
few Coleoptera or a piece of raw steak appeared in sight. When- 
ever supplied with beef or his proper insect food, fruit was inva- 
tiably discarded. Raw mutton and veal were next added to this 
bill-of-fare, he cared for neither, and the latter produced the same 
effect upon his digestive apparatus as did earth worms. 
Diurnal and nocturnal Lepidoptera were swallowed with appa- 
rent zest, but it was impossible to procure enough of them to 
Satisfy his hunger. Every day I had to eke out his subsistence 
with beef. On the 25th of July I concluded to set him free, 
and accordingly, after giving him a small meal of raw beef, I 
opened the door of his prison and let him go out. He did not 
go far from the house, but flew around from tree to tree and 
upon the roof; busying himself catching flies and what small 
Coleoptera he could find. He evidently made poor progress 
catering for himself, for about twelve o'clock he flew into the 
piazza, perched upon the balustrade and appeared very hungry. 
My wife got a piece of meat and he instantly flew to her, perch- 
ing upon her shoulder as if imploring something to eat. She 
placed him in his cage once more, and until August 7th he was 
not allowed egress. From that date until August 25th he was 
allowed to spend every day out doors; he always returned to- 
ward evening for his beefsteak and was put back in the cage. 
Although other robins were in the vicinity he evinced no desire 
to go with them. I noticed, however, that every day he was out 
he became more timid and appeared to be gradually regaining 
his feral nature. During the early part of August I collected 
great numbers of grasshoppers, of which he appeared very fond. 
The number of Orthoptera he would devour in a day was simply 
astonishing. He now appeared to be fully grown. — 
. August 25th was a damp, cloudy day, with frequent light 
Showers, He was let out of the cage at the usual time, about 
eight o'clock, and was not seen again. Whether he had been 
frightened off to some distance and did not know the way back — 
Or whether he had concluded to trust his chances in-the “ wide, 
Wide world,” I never knew. 
VOL, X1I—No vit. 32 
