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The Crippled Robin of Hinsdale 
TORIES frequently come to us about birds that have shown a very 
high degree of friendship and confidence to bird lovers. The fol- 
lowing experience of Mr. Elmer H. Tuttle of Hinsdale, Illinois, is 
quite unique among bird experiences. In the spring of 1921 a male 
robin who had a defective wing came to Mr. Tuttle’s grounds. What 
the injury was that impeded this robin’s flight is, of course, unknown, 
but it was proved by one of the first primaries of one wing being pure 
white and not conforming with the other feathers, so the robin’s infirmity 
was easily noticed. The robin soon became very friendly. He would 

Photograph by Howard T,. Middleton 
GETTING ACQUAINTED 
keep just out of the way of the lawn mower and seemed not to be afraid 
of anything on the place. So far as is known the robin was a bachelor for 
during the six years of his regular visits he never was seen with a mate. 
He used the bird bath,which was a low one set on the ground,but always 
had difficulty in bathing. It never was known where the robin roosted 
but there were large elms in the vicinity which were supposed to be its 
apartments. After the robin’s first coming was noticed Mr. Tuttle 
kept an account of its coming in the springtime and leaving in the 
autumn. His arrival was normally 30 days after the other Hinsdale 
robins and he always came alone. He left in the fall migration with the 
other robins so that it is probable that his late arrival in the spring was 
not due to a late start but to his infirmity. Commencing with 1921, for 
six successive years this friendly robin returned to his summer home 
on the Tuttle place in Hinsdale. This spring he failed to arrive and as a 
consequence he is very much missed for Mr. Tuttle had become very 
much attached to him. 
