16 
AMERICAN ROBIN OR MIGRATORY THRUSH. 
and shoot the greater part of the day, so fast do the flocks of Robins succeed 
each other. They are then fat and juicy, and afford excellent eating. 
During the winter they feed on the berries and fruits of our woods, fields, 
gardens, and even of the ornamental trees of our cities and villages. The 
holly, the sweet-gum, the gall-berry, and the poke, are those which they 
first attack ; but, as these fail, which is usually the case in January, they 
come nearer the towns and farm-houses, and feed voraciously on the caperia 
berry ( Ilex caperia ), the wild-orange berry (Prunus carolinianus), and the 
berries of the pride of India ( Melia azedarach). With these they are often 
choked, so that they fall from the trees, and are easily caught. When they 
feed on the berries of the poke-plant, the rich crimson juices color the 
stomach and flesh of these birds to such an extent as to render their appear- 
ance, when plucked, disagreeable ; and although their flesh retains its usual 
savour, many persons decline eating them. During summer and spring they 
devour snails and worms, and at Labrador I saw some feeding on small 
shells, which they probed or broke with ease. 
Toward the approach of spring they throw themselves upon the newly 
ploughed grounds, into the gardens, and the interior of woods, the under- 
growth of which has been cleared of grass by fire, to pick up ground-worms, 
grubs, aud other insects, on which, when perched, they descend inapouncing. 
manner, swallowing the prey in a moment, jerking their tail, beating their 
wings, and returning to their stations. They also now and then pick up the 
seed of the maize from the fields. 
Whenever the sun shines warmly over the earth, the old males tune their 
pipes, and enliven the neighbourhood with their song. The young also begin 
to sing ; and, before they depart for the east, they have all become musical. 
By the 10th of April, the Robins have reached the Middle Districts ; the 
blossoms of the dogwood are then peepingforth in every part of the budding 
woods ; the fragrant sassafras, the red flowers of the maple, and hundreds of 
other plants, have already banished the dismal appearance of winter. The 
snows are all melting away, and nature again, in all the beauty of spring, 
promises happiness and abundance to the whole animal creation. Then it is 
that the Robin, perched on a fence-stake, or the top of some detached tree 
of the field, gives vent to the warmth of his passion. His lays are modest, 
lively, and ofttimes of considerable power ; and although his song cannot be 
compared with that of the Thrasher, its vivacity and simplicity never fail to 
fill the breast of the listener with pleasing sensations. Every one knows 
the Robin and his song. Excepting in the shooting season, he is cherished 
by old and young, and is protected by all with anxious care. 
The nest of this bird is frequently placed on the horizontal branch of an 
apple-tree, sometimes in the same situation on a forest-tree ; now and then it 
