100 
BIRDS OF DURHAM AND VICINITY. 
here in summer. It is as a vocalist that the Hermit deserves especial 
notice. Its inspiring song is doubly impressive because it is rendered in 
the quiet hours of morning and evening, or during the lull following a 
summer shower, when the clear, soul-stirring melody of this prince of 
preachers comes up from the somber pines like a benediction. 
Merula migratoria. American Robix. 761. 
Robins are to be found in this corner of the state all the year round 
though I believe those found here in winter are not the same that 
summer here. Brief selections from my notes on the Robin for the 
year 1898 present an average statement of its movements. They 
are as follows: February 14, a warm morning, Robins calling in the 
pines east of the mill-pond ; March 1 1 , a large flock flew over — first 
wave of migrants: April 21, the migration is ended; April 25, a nest 
is completed in an apple tree, while there is not yet a leaf on it ; 
November 8, a springlike day, the last southward flight passed over 
between eight and ten o'clock in the morning, five flocks aggreo^ating 
about two hundred. Robins seen here between December i and 
March i must be reckoned as winter residents, as migration waves do 
not pass during that period. There is comparatively little snow here 
and Robins are able to spend the winter without especial hardship. 
They find an abundant supply of barberries and red cedar berries on 
which to subsist, and plenty of dense pine woods to shelter them 
from cold winds. If one will take the trouble to search diligently 
through the woods and pastures that lie between the Newmarket road 
and Great Bay, he is almost certain to find Robins at any time during 
the winter. 
Sialia sialis. Bluebird. 766. 
The first Bluebird comes very regularly on or about the tenth 
of March, unless prevented by unusually severe weather. The main 
body of migrants comes about April i, and for a week or so Bluebirds 
are really plentiful, but when the final flight is passed they are sadly 
few. . The fall migration is practically ended by the twenty- fifth of 
October, and by the first of November the last one has disappeared. 
So long as insects are to be found in sufficient quantities, they consti- 
tute the Bluebird's principal diet, but, as the insect supply wanes, 
various small fruits are consumed. The pale berries of the panicled 
dogwood (^Corims paniculatus) , which grows in this vicinity quite 
abundantly, are eaten to a considerable extent in October. It is a pity 
that a bird so manifestly correct in every particular should not be 
