ROBIN. 
29 
ROBIN TURD US MIGRATORIUS — Plate II. Fig. 2. 
Linn. Syst. i. p. 292, 6 Turdus Canadensis, JBriss. ii. p. 225,9. — La Litorne de 
Canada, Buff. iii. p. 307 Grive de Canada, Pl. enl. 556, 1 Fieldfare of 
Carolina, Cat. Car. i. 29 Red-breasted tbrush, Arct. Zool. ii. No. 196. — Lath. 
Syn. ii. p. 26. — JBartram, p. 290. — Peale's Museum , No. 5278. 
TURDUS MIGRATORIUS. * — Linnaeus. 
Turdus migratorius, Bonap. Synop. p. 75. — Merula migratoria. North. 
Zool. ii. p. 177. 
This well known bird, being familiar to almost every body, 
will require but a short description. It measures nine inches 
and a half in length ; the bill is strong, an inch long, and of 
* In the beautifully wrought out arrangement of the Merulidce, by Mr 
Swainson, in the second volume of the Northern Zoology, that family will form 
the second among the Dentirostres, or the subtypical group ; including, for its 
five principal divisions, the families Merulinoe, Myotherince, JBrachypodince, 
Oriolince, and Crater opodince ; among these, however, two, or at most three, 
only, come within the range of the northern continent of America, — the first 
and third. The first, Merulince , or more properly the typical form, will now 
claim our attention. 
In all the members taken collectively, and in adaptation to their general 
habits, they shew considerable perfection, though their form as a part of the 
Dentirostres does not come up to the typical perfections of that group. The 
parts are adapted for extensive locomotion, either in walking or perching, and 
in flight ; many perform very considerable migrations, and long and rapid flights 
are often taken in those countries even where the climate does not seem to 
render this necessary. They are nearly omnivorous. A great part of their 
sustenance is sought for upon the ground, particularly during that season when 
insects are not indispensable for the welfare of their broods ; and their feet 
and tarsi are admirably formed for walking and inspecting the various places 
where their food is then chiefly to be found. At other times they live principally 
upon fruits and some vegetables, with the larvae of insects, and the abundant 
supply of large and succulent caterpillars ; but during winter, the harder grains, 
and more fleshy insects common to low meadows and moist woods, such as the 
various snails, flies, and worms, are nearly their only food ; for after the first 
month of the inclement season has passed, most of the winter wild fruits and 
