Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-04-02
Robins Indispensable to the Farmer.

The mischief which birds do is often of
daily occurrence, is open, palpable, and
not to be gainsaid. And yet these very
birds are often really our greatest benefac.
tors. Let us take up first for our consid-
Grafton the Robin. Where will you find,
hereabouts, one more complained OF, more
generally denounced, than he? Is henot,
by common consent, pronounced by most
of our fruit growers the pest of horticul
turists? Does he not steal our cherries,
plundsr our strawberries, strip our cur
rant bushes, pilfer our raspberries, help
himself to our choicest grapes, and, if we
have some rare Shepardia berries, will
not the glutton take the wholeY And
dees he not, some one else will add, at
tack and spoil our handsomest pears? In
reply to the last charge we cannot respond
atflrmatively. We do not believe it, and
if it were true, we should say to whoever
made this charge: My dear sir, it only
serves you right. You should not leave
summer pears on the tree long enough to
become so soft as to tempt q bird to peck
at them. Your fruit should have been
gathered when so hard that no bird could
modest it, and thus you would have saved
your pears and improved their quality J"
But we are getting Off our track, and will
return to the Robin. ..r.
With the exception of the pear accuse.
ton, which we believe to be bosh, we ad-
nit the truth of all these charges-but
what thenf What do they prove? Sim
ply that the worst traits in the character
Of the Robin are those which, unfortu-
nately for his reputation, are the most APP
parent, and which are brought home to
the notice of all who have fruit TO be
plundered, while his beneficial deeds es-
cape the general observation. The Robin
Is eminently one of those who delight in
doing good by stealth, but alas he is
very rarely put to the blush by finding II
fame. The world, as a general thing, is
but too prompt TO recognize the mischief
he docs, but knows little or nothing OF
his good deeds, far overbelancing his
faults
Fortunately for the reputation Of the
Robin, careful and faithful friends have
| looked into his record, and the result OF
| their investigations proves him 10 be an
invaluable friend TO the farmer, and de
monstrate by indisputable evidence, that
| his services are of an indispensable i'm
pOrtance. Nearly eleven years since, the
very same gentleman who this last sum
mer signalized his imperfect knowledge OF
birds by protesting against the European
| Sparrow's coming to Boston, because II
was not an insect-eaier, at meeting
of the Massachusetts, Horticultural So
ciety introduced motion in favor
Of the presentation Of petition u
the State Legislature, in the name Of the
Society, praying for the repeal Of all legis
lation for the protection of the Robin
After an animated discussion, in which Il
was shown that the Robin was not even
then without strong friends, the Society
instead Of adopting the motion, very wise
| ly voted to look into the matter befor,
they thus committed themselves, and TO
ferred the whole subject Of the habits o
the Robin 20 select conmittee, who wer,
desired 20 make thorough investigation
Fortunately at the head of this committe,
was placed j. w, Z. jerks, Esq, of Mid
dleboro. an ardent and jealous friend o
the bird. He entered upon his duties viii
an Slacrity and an interest, and completed
them with idelity and a thoroughnesl
that reflect upon him the highest credit