206 THE ROBIN. 
in close proximity, while the female is occupied with prepara- 
tions for a second family. The second nest is not very far re- 
moved from the first, and fortunate indeed must the parents be if : 
these two broods all grow to be adult birds. If the male gives no 
assistance in building the nest, yet he has his duties to perform 
which become him marvellously. As soon as the birds are out of | 
the shell it is his business to clear out the nest of all offensive 
matter, and keep it clean of all excrement until the birds have 
flown, provide all the food, which is purely insectivorous, and sit 
upon the nest in the female’s absence, which is no small ignoble 
office for so brave and noble a fellow as cock robin. He finds 
but little time now for his loud, long strains. His part of duty 
will not bear neglect. 
The young, when left undisturbed, seldom go far away from the 
home nest, although when they once leave, they never enter it 
again. It is left in an uncleanly state, generally alive with vermin, | 
which soon leave the young bird. The robin is remarkably clean 
in every habit, and takes a daily bath. I was much amused one 
day, the past summer, at à little incident that occurred in the front 
yard under the cherry tree. i oo 
A female robin was gathering materials for a second nest, 
picking from around the roots of rose bushes, the long dead 4 
“grasses, until her. beak was filled and the ends flowed out like 
silken hairs, when suddenly one of her own young ones, 4 pretty i 
mottled little creature, alighted in front of her and, opening wide e 
her yellow throat, begged for food. The mother thus taken with- 
: ated k on the a 
head as a reproof, which did not have the desired effect, 5O Ms 
immediately plunged the whole contents of her beak down the little 
one’s throat and flew away. The poor little thing had a long aP" 
difficult tug, in clearing its throat of the unstable commodity, but 
the repentant parent soon returned with wholesome food, am” 
gave her offspring, after which the male appeared, and piloted = 
the offending charge to an adjoining tree. No doubt mine fom 
a gave her liege lord a severe curtain lecture, upon the occasion. 
few. Has any one ever observed the manner i 
proaches its object, how cautiously, politely, quietly, it P 
moving with one eye ever on the alert for danger, and the 
solicitously bent on the particular thing of its desire! 
