THE THRUSHES 
181 
sume as food. 1 These birds have been specially 
developed by Nature to combat and destroy 
the hordes of insects destructive to fruit, grain 
and tree life, which otherwise would in a short 
time increase to such enormous numbers that 
no vegetation could withstand their attacks. 
To young pupils, the Order of Perching and 
Singing Birds may at first seem difficult to grasp ; 
but in reality it is not. A knowledge of forty 
birds will give one a very good idea of its various 
Families; and any one can learn about forty 
birds. After this Order has been mastered, all 
others will be found quite easy. The examples 
introduced have been selected with great care, 
and concerning those illustrated, the pictures 
will tell of their forms and markings far better 
than wordy descriptions could do. 
THE THRUSH FAMILY. 
Turdidae. 
The Robin . 2 — All lovers of birds should agree 
in placing this dear old friend at the head of the 
list of the birds of this continent. This is be- 
cause it is the highest avian type. It has typical 
plumage, it flies well, it perches, it sings beauti- 
fully, it migrates, and its anatomy is thoroughly 
representative. Moreover, it quickly discerns 
a friend and protector, and it is not driven away 
by the English sparrow. 
Of all our birds, the Robin comes the nearest 
to being “folks.” It is always one of the first 
birds to arrive in the spring, it remains all sum- 
mer, and it is one of the last to depart at the ap- 
proach of winter. Often the late spring snows 
catch it on its early migration, and its staying 
powers are put to the test. It is a good plan to 
scatter food for these early birds. Nothing save 
the sun itself is more gladdening on a raw March 
day than the joyous note by which the Robin 
announces the arrival of himself and spring. 
Who is there who can know the Robin and not 
love him? Few indeed; and those persons 
1 Up to 1903 the Biological Survey of the United 
States Department of Agriculture had published 
twenty important bulletins and shorter papers on 
the food habits of our birds, with especial reference 
to the species either most beneficial or most harm- 
ful to the farmer and fruit-grower. A list of those 
now available, and the terms on which they are 
procurable, will be furnished by the Department 
upon application. 
2 Me-ru'la mi-gra-to'ri-a. Length, from end of 
beak to end of tail, 9 to 10 inches. 
around New York and in some parts of the South 
who shoot Robins for food, are wholly unfit to 
inhabit the Robin’s country, unless they reform. 3 
The Robin is one of the sweetest and most 
joyous Songsters I know. As well try to describe 
the glories of a sunset as to set forth in words 
the liquid melody, clear and sweet, which pours 
from his throat when he feels particularly joy- 
ous. 
Everywhere, the Robin is a very sociable bird, 
and exceeding quick to distinguish a friend from 
a foe. Give it absolute protection, and security 
from cats, and it will cheerfully nest on your win- 
dow-sill. This is what one actually did in Buffalo, 
under our roof, — built her nest on the sill of an 
upper window, close against the glass, and reared 
her brood there. We went many times to see 
ROBIN. 
how she was getting on, and she, knowing well 
that glass is a barrier, permitted us to put our 
faces within two inches of her head. 
In the Zoological Park, the Robins were the 
first wild creatures to learn, in 1900, that the 
reign of the poacher was over ; and they quickly 
told it to the crows, and thrushes, and other 
birds. In an eight-foot pine-tree, that was 
3 “ In central Tennessee are large tracts of cedars, 
the berries of which serve to attract myriads of 
Robins in the winter. One small hamlet in this dis- 
trict sends to market annually enough Robins to 
return $500, at five cents per dozen , equal to 120,000 
birds.” They are killed at night by torchlight, with 
sticks. An officer of the Louisiana Audubon Society 
states that a conservative estimate of the number 
annually killed in Louisiana for food purposes is a 
quarter of a million when they are usually plentiful. 
— William Dutcher, in Educational Leaflet No. 4, of 
the National Committee of Audubon Societies. 
