THE FOOD OF THE ROBIN. 129 
In the above table is given the percentage of each particular artiole 
of diet in the whole food for each month, and the number of robins which 
were found to have eaten the particular food during the month. The 
last two columns indicate the average monthly proportion of the various 
food matters for the whole five months, and the total number of robins 
which had taken each food matter during that time. At the end of the 
table is given the economic proportion for each month, and in the last 
column the average monthly proportion forthe entire time. 
It will be seen that this last proportion indicates the robin’s food to 
consist, on the average, of 52 percent. of species, plants and insects, which 
are beneficial to us, of about 19 per cent. which are injurious, and of 29 
per cent. whose economic relations are not known. 
The question now is, what shall we do with the robin in the light of 
these results? There are so many things to consider. The reactions of 
different organisms upon one another are so varied, complex and far- 
reaching that it isalmost impossible to say what would be the effect upon 
the whole biological realm of dropping out one species. But even allow- 
ing for the possibility that, as Prof. Forbes thinks, the services of the 
predacious beetles which the robin destroys have been overestimated, 
yet it seems that we may justly urge from the results set forth above, 
that the fruit grower should at least be allowed to kill the robin during 
the season when he is most harmiul, and not, as at present, be in danger 
of arrest and fines for shooting the robins in his own gardens. 
The robin may be a pleasant singer and may possess commendable 
domestic habits. He destroys cut-worms and white grubs. But let us not 
imagine that all his insect food is of an injurious nature, and let us not, 
while praising the robin for the good he does, forget his faults, which are 
many. . 
REMARKS BY THE HORTICULTURIST. 
The robin has generally been regarded as more useful than injurious. 
It is true that an occasional fruit grower has dissented from the view held 
by the majority, and has felt inclined to take the law into his own hands 
and protect his crops with a shot gun, but until recent years the robin 
has been allowed to exact whatever tribute of fruit he wished without 
much fear of molestation. 
Small fruits are more largely grown than formerly, while wild fruits 
are less abundant, but the robin’s appetite has not changed, nor do his 
numbers seem to be lessened ; indeed, many believe that the reverse is 
true. At any rate many are beginning to think that whatever value the 
3% EXP. sT.—B 43 
