The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-04-08

~ NuV TRACK, aul VIII return TO tn
Robin.
With the exception Of the pear ac
cusatiou, which We believe to be bosh
We admit the truth ofall these charge
but what theu? What do Il cy prove
Simply that worst traits in the char.
! Ter OF the Robin are those which. un
fortunately for his reputation ar,
brought home to the notice of nj
who ha G fruit to plumber, while hi
beneficial deeds escape the gcucra
observation. The Robin is eminent.
| y one Of those, who delight in doing
food by stealth, but alas he is very
rarely put to the blush by finding il
game, The world, as a general thiug
il to prompt to recognize ths mis-
chir he does, but know little or moth
ing of his good deeds, far oycrbal-
auciug his faults.
Fortunately for the reputation Of
the Robin, careful aud faithful friend,
have looked iuto his record, and the
result of their investigation proves
him to be an invaluable friend to the
firmor, aud demonstrate by iudis,
putable evidence, that his services
are of indispensable Importance.
Over eleven years since, the very
same gentleman who last summer
signaiaed lis imperfect knowledge
of birds by protesting against the
European Sparrow's coming to Bos-
ton, because it was not an insect eat
er, at a meeting of the Massachusetts,
horticultural Society introduced
molion in favor of tho presentation of
a petition to the State Legislature, in
the II me of the Society, praying for
the repeal Of all legislation for the
protection of the Robin. Altor au
animated discussion, in which it was
shown that the Robin was not even
then without strong friends, the So-
cioty, instead Of adopting the motion,
very wisely voted to look into the
matter before they thus committed
themselves, aud referred the whole
subjeo, Of the habits of tho Robin to
a select committee, who were desired
to mike very thorough inycstiga-
ton. Fortunately at the head Of the
committee was placed 4. w. Z. JeLks,
rsq. Of Middleb0ro', an ardent aud
jealous friend of the bird. lie en-
tered upcu his duties with au alacri
Iy and an interest, aud completed
hem with fidelity aud a thorough
ness that reflects upon him the high
sst credit. The leisure hours OF an
entire year were devoted by this gen.
.lcman to careful aud minute invcs
legation OF the subject committed TO
MS charge. Day by day, aud at all |
hours of the day, he produced spec.
mems of the birus for the purpose Of
.Xaminiug the conteuts of their sew
'ral stomacbs, for evidence Of the
general character Of their food.
Robins were thus obtained by him
10Th from tho villages aud from ru-
q districts, apart from ardens aud
trGK' RI Mar6n, ;rs0s, tnGsd wehe Con
inued with more or less frequency,
ntil the same month Of the succeed
ng year.
Confning ourselves here to such
ortious of the results as may have a
ircct bearing upon the points we
eek to establish, we find that Pro-
assor jerks has demonstrated,
mong other things, that during the
'hole of March, April aud My not
particle Of vegetable matter Of any
ind whatever could be found in the
1od Of the Robins. Insects, 10 large
uantitities, varying greatly as to
ind, condition, aud development
'ere during all these months their
ole aud exclusive food. Thc larvm
{ Il species of fly known to natural
Its as the BiLto alJipenais Of Say,
,rmed large proportion of the cou.
ents cf their stomaches. Not un.
as many as two hundred
t these insects, in this stage of de.
elopment, were taken from single
ird, aud for the most part whenever
ny were found they were the only
bod in the birds stomach.-Atlu-
&c Monthy for AP,H.