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OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE WISCONSIN AND ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETIES. 
One Year 25 Cents Single Copy 3 Cents 
Published by the Wisconsin Audubon Society, at Appleton, Wisconsin. 
Entered as second-class matter May 1(5, 1904 at Appleton, Wis., under the act of Congress Q f Mar. 3, ’79. 
VOL. VIII. APRIL, 1906. ~ No. 10. 
PETER. 
Our readers will be interested to hear 
more about the pet robin, Peter, whose 
story appeared in the March issue. His 
mistress, Mrs. Ada Lord, of Oshkosh, has 
kindly written the following complete 
history for By The Wayside.—Editor. 
Peter is a robin about two and one- 
half years of age. He was found one fall, 
either the last of August or the first of 
September, we are not sure which. When 
found, he was nearly dead, cuddled up 
against a stove in the back yard. 
We brought him in and, forcing his 
mouth open, we fed him worms, bread 
and water, boiled eggs and water. We 
think when found he was not more than 
one day out of the nest. In a few days 
he learned to feed himself. At the age 
of six weeks he refused to eat worms and 
has never vet returned to his natural diet. 
%r 
Until three months of age he would al- 
wavs answer “Pete,” when we called him, 
and if we all were away for a short time 
he would fiy to meet us when we returned 
and have a great story to tell. Since 
then he has grown independent and^will 
not answer us. 
When young he seemed to think we 
were all robins and would go to any one, 
especially men, alighting on their knees, 
shoulders or head. Now he seems to 
look a stranger all ovej befor^ having 
anything to do with ftifm and , tjaen he 
will not play as with ut.l \ He fiat many 
cute tricks, eating out\oV ^>nets\ mouth, 
tearing up papers, and speaking, like a 
dog. 
He is very bright and easily taught 
He had a trick of flying onto father’s 
shoulder and pulling his hair and biting 
his ear; but after repeated scoldings he 
has learned better. He will steal dough- 
nuts and butter off of the table, and when, 
doing something he knows is forbidden he 
will say “Wheep, w-h-e-e-p” so mourn¬ 
fully that one thinks he is begging for 
mercy. 
Sunday mornings, if let out before all 
the members of the family are up he will 
go and hunt the rest up and sing to them. 
He has had several chances to gain his 
freedom, but either the out-of-doors looks 
so large or else he does not realize he can 
go, for he has never gone. Of course we 
never intentionally gave him a chance to 
escape. 
All winter he sings in a low, far-away 
voice, never opening his beak; but when 
spring comes he sings so loudly and so 
continuously we almost wish he would 
get away. While this fit of spring is on 
him, he is cross and will pick your hand 
as hard as he can and scratch your hand 
with his feet. 
He plainly shows his feelings by his 
actions. When displeased he holds his 
feathers close to his body, drags his wings 
and runs his head forward; when sur¬ 
prised he sticks the feathers on his 
head up straight; when teasing for any¬ 
thing he drops or spreads his wings and 
hops about in his cage; when resting he 
