The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-28
Robins. &c.


their march they are examining the helds
with care to find the means OF subsistence
They have been migrating from their SOUTH
ern winter home for some weeks, and their
Droercss northward will continue for some
time. Their number is such as to invite to
the field numbers OF rohin-shooters. The
most stalwart and valiant OF these shooters
are black. Hals-dozen Of these "sports-
men, on the Square Il morning or two
since, were enthusiastic in their anticlPa-
tons. One declared that robins were
"brisk"; another that he had killed
eleven" yesterday, and a third said, -
kill six dis morning fore 'brekfus.
Forthwith an expedition after robins was
planned for the day. These able and sable
marksmen, armed with abandoned muskets,
were to roam through the land and forest
numbering robins. To think OF such a
foray upon the farmers friend-the blithe
and gay robin-scemcd horror in a civil
lied land.
That the robin Is one of the most valuable
OF ect-destroyers is certain. 1t is an III
teresting sight to behold him hunting his
food. You may observe robins sometimes III
hundreds in c!over-field advancing in a
line across the field hunting their "srub."
You will see each one hop rapidly short
distance and pause. Turning his head
aslant and lowering it slightly he seems to
listen, and then pecks sharply and rapidly
into the ground. Almost instantly he
draws forth worm, generally fat, white
grub, and deyours him with satisfaction.
You may sec il little while hundred
such worms dug up in this manner by the
industrious purveyors.
The wonder is how the birds detect the
presence of the worm beneath the earth
with no surface disturbance to show his
whereabouts. 1t must be by their keen
sense of hearing. They must hear the worm
biting with bis mandibles the roots Of the
grass, and thus they are enabled to cut into
the very spot and drag him from his feast.
Thus the robin gains his subsistence. I'm
mense focks scatter over the fields and con-
duct their war upon the enemies OF the farm
er. They find abundant food, and thus main
tain themselves on their spring march with
out committing any depreciation upon any
thing t.:at is valuable. 1t is while the indus:
trious flocks are thus engaged that the daunt-
less shooter with the musket fires upon
them and scatters them abroad.
1t is unfortunate that these birds should
be SO set upon when they are doing so much
good. And what is the use OF it? The
robin is but poor food. We never ate one
that was palatable except on one occasion,
when ZETELLE cooked few. But he cooked
them with claret, and in such refined style
that it must have done them'good to be thus
cooked. Were we Gar we should prohibit
the killing and cooking oil the robin except
afew by ZETELLE.
Speaking OF cooking birds, we are re-
minded Of new dish, we partook OF re-
cently-yiz., stall:ted uoild pigeons. These
pigeons were caught with nets at the pi.
geon-roost, where they fockeel, in millions,
and then confined in darkened coops and
fed and fattened to excess. They are excel
lent. They, combine the flavor of wild
game with the excelencies Of the fat do
nestle fowl.
This by the way. But to add word
about our friend the robin. We declare
that we think the annual war upon him is
barbarous. he is one Of the most innocent.
Of birds, one OF the most valued Of friends
to the farmer, and bis bright song from the
tall tree that graees the plain near the rural
home is one, of the sweetest and most cheer
Eui sounds in the world. It rings in the
long. after it is heard. Oh spare
Lhe gentle, the dear . Robin Red Breast
s45sf.fj IA - 81 ts5i
The Doaises /: And Other Choice Selections
from thes7Writings 6f joaquin Miller;
THE Poet OF the Sierras. - tied by
ID. HosEFita NJ n CIV q ofk !: The
sAmsricaH News CONN a;a;fi
;ssYYa. have received. from itoT copy
III. his book, OR sale We sitpposa, hyd