Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-05-13
Are Robins a Nuisance ?

Baron Won Tscbpdl, the wel-KnoWn oWlSS
naturalist, says: without birds, successful
agriculture is impossible They annihilate in
few months a greater number of destructive
insects than human hands can accomplish IN
the same number Of years. Amongst the most
useful birds for this purpose may be classed
the swallow. wren, robbin redbreast, titmouse,
sparrow and finch" Tscbudi tested titmouse
upon the rosebushes Of his neighbor, and rid
the same in a few hours Of innumerable lice
robin redbreast killed in the neighborhood
Of 800 flies in an hour. a pair Of night swal-
lows destroyed in fifteen minutes an immense
swarm of gnats A pair of wrens few thirty
six times in an hour, with insects in their bill,
to their nests. He considers the sparrow very
important, pair Of them carrying, in single
day, 800 worms or caterpillars to their nests
certainly good compensation for the few
cherries they pluck from the trees.
In addition to being attractive bids, robins
are very useful, and perform valuable duties
for the farmer. Careful friends, observes
writer in the atlantic Monthly, have looked in
to his record, and the result Of their investiga-
tions proves the robin to be an invaluable
friend to the husbandman, and demonstrates,
by indisputable evidence, that his services are
of an indispensable importance. A few years
AGO gentleman urged the Massachusetts llor-
ticultural Society to apply to the Legislature
for a repeal of all legislation for the protection
of robins, on the ground that they were not ln-
sect eaters.
A committee, headed by the eminent orni-
thologist. Professor jerks, Of Mddleboro', was
appointed to investigate the matter. Mr..
jerks devoted the leisure hours Of an entirey ear
to a careful and minute investigation OF the
subject committed to his charge. lie obtained
birds from every locality, and ascertained, from
an examination of their stomachs, that they
were great insect eaters. During the months
of March, April aud May not particle Of
vegetable matter Of any kind whatever could
be found in the food Of the robins. Insects in
large quantities, varying greatly as to kind,
condition and development, were, during all
these months. their sole and exclusive food
The larva of species Of fly, known to natu-
ralists as the BibiO ADipeHuis, formed a large
proportion Of the content, Of their stomachs.
Frequently, as many as two hundred were
found in the stomach of single bird. These
larve do great injury TO vines, roots, seeds, &c,
aud Mr.. jerks ascertained that great destruc-
ton of vegetable life would be occasioned by
them, were it Eot that robins prevent their IN
crease. These larva live in large swarms, and
when large colony is discovered it is quickly
exterminated by the robins.
Prof. jerks further discovered that during
the months of May and June the larvae replaced
in the stomach of the robin by variety OF IN
sects. Prof. Treadwell, Of Cambridge, after
many governments. demonstrated few years
ago. that young robin consumed forty-one per
cent Of animal food more than his own weight
in Twelve hours, before he began to gain, and
that after he had eaten this amount, bis own
weight was fifteen per cent. lese than the food
be had consumed. That be absolutely needed
this large amount of food was shown by bis
falling off in weight when he had less. "Even
when fed on raw beef the young bird consumed
nearly his own equivalent each day; and, al
ter eating this amount daily for thirteen sue
cessive days, his weight was then hardly twice
in amount that of bis daily supply Of raw beef.
We can thus form some idea Of the enormous
capacity Of the robin for making away with
insects, worms, and other foes OF vegetable life.