ful of soft wet earth has to be found and carried to the new 
nest. Imagine the strength of a feeling which will make © 
these dainty feathered creatures undertake this task. Year — 
after year these master-masons fill their tiny hods many 
times, and carry more than their own weight of moist soil : 
to plaster their one room. — 
How bedrabbled and untidy their russet bibs become, 
_ for, after each trip this interlining has to be smoothed into 
the rounding bowl. The trowels used are Mrs. Robin’s feet,, 
helped a little by her soft breast. Is it any wonder that the 
white edgings of the early spring feathers are worn in both 
birds during the building season, and that after the work is | 
done, and all traces removed, the birds appear to have new 
and brighter coats? | 
| Before the work is finished, a mattress of the finest 7 
grass stems is necessary in the nest to give a safe bed for 
the three or four brittle blue eggs, and after it is placed, 
_ Mr. Robin spends most of his time in musical efforts. His 
clear soprano melody may be a bit monotonous, for his | 
_ rather slow song is usually made up of several strains with 
two or three notes each, and its constant rising and falling 
inflection may not be as delightful to you as to him, Ha 
listener tries to put words to its tones, he may get a part 
of its jolly meaning, while he will become so well acquaint- 
ed with its motive, iat it will never again be confused with 
the voice of the jay or the meadowlark. } 
The father bird has but a short holiday af about a fort- 
night for singing, as young robins have an appetite equal to 
growing girls and boys, and he does his share of trying to 
keep them full. A patient man, who tried the experiment of 
adopting a family of baby robins, found that he had to. 
provide 68 earthworms daily for each infant, which was 41 
per cent more than it weighed. If Mary or Tom ate in this 
fashion, parents would find the high cost of living even more 
_ puzzling than at present. Someone has estimated the child 
a would have to swallow seventy pounds of meat and five or 
91 
