Huntsville gazette., 1882-05-27
The Robin.
The subject Of GINS sketch is one OF

The subject Of this sketch is one Of
the earliest of our spring birds, though
not the first. From his domestic habits,
however, he is often the first to give the
farmer notice that winter has fairly
passed away In the settled parts Of
the country the robin is found most FREE
quently about the gardens, door-yards
and orchards, seeming to prefer the
proximity of man and his structures,
which he often uses for nesting places.
In the, East we have seen him in the
backwoods of Northern Maine, far from
any human habitation. On the prairies
of the West he is found wherever trees
are grown, and spreads over the treeiess
plains as fast as settlers afford him suit
able places of breeding. In choosing a
site for his nest this bird is far from
being particular or hard to please. We
once found one built upon the ground
between the swell of the roots of an APP
pie tree in an old orchard, and taking
this for a starting point, we have found
them in almost every conceivable po-
sition up to thirty TO forty feet high on a
pine tree. An old stump, a projecting
stone of wall, nook in rail fence,
broad flat beam or crotch OF brace
in woodshed, are all favorite locations.
Sometimes he finds a place to his liking
under a bridge or on the return Of the
cornice under the gable of house. We
once found a nest, with newly-hedged
young, built on railway bridge within
few inches of the rail over which some
half dozen trains daily rolled. In New
England, after the early settlers had
cleared off the timber they piled up the
stumps and made fences by placing
them in long rows, with the roots
branching out in every direction. These
stump fences seemed to be peculiarly
adapted to the robins taste in the mat
ter of building nests, and we remember
that in our boyhood's days we have
often found in certain line of such
fence a nest in every three or four
rods.
The nest itself is a rather bulky struc-
ture, built more for use than ornament,
and usually not hidden or disguised in
any way. The outside is made of coarse
twigs and weed stems, and supports a
nicely formed bowl of mud. This bowl
is so complete in itself that it can be re-
moved entire, and may be considered
as the nest proper, the twigs serving as
the foundation, and the lining, which is
of fine grass, as the furniture. That
this is really the case may be shown by
examining nest taken from a fork of a
tree. 1t will be seen that no twigs are
interposed between the bowl and the
branches, for these themselves furnish
Of fhncn nj nd
the twigs are placed so as to support the
other parts. Indeed, such is the econo-
my of material used that the bowl itself
is thinned away to nothing where it
comes in contact with the solid branch.
The number of eggs is usually four, but
may vary one either way. They are of
that peculiar color know as 1srobin's
blue,'' for they are only blue as con-
trasted with green, land only appear
green when in juxtaposition with pure
blue.
Although of a placid disposition so
far as relates to man, this bird is not so
peaceable in intercourse with other
birds, and is frequently seen engaged in
quarrels and brawls with them. Only a
few days ago we saw one drive purple
grackle from tree where the robin had
selected spot for his nest. Between
the king bird and the robin there is an
hereditary feud, and it is never allowed
to die out-in fact, if both happen to
occupy the same orchard, every day
will witness a renewal of the strife.
When the young are Matched it IS a
busy time with the parent birds, for they
are voracious feeders, and their mouths
are always on the cape for more. A
young robin was found by experiment
to eat in one day forty-one per cent
more than his own weightof fearthworns,
and it is said that the united length of
these worms, if placed in single line,
would have been about fourteen feet.
When fed on raw beef the same bird ate
one-half of his own weight in. a single
day. Think of man who should eat
seventy pounds of beef daily-who
would want him for boarder? The
diet of the robin consists of insects and
fruits, the latter of the smaller kind,
like strawberries and cherries. Don't
shoot him, however, if he does steal
little fruit If he carries the matter too
far, set up stuffed cat in the strawberry
bed or cherry-tree, and the birds will
give it wide berth. This method of
using cats is much superior to the old
one, and is moreover, conducive to
peace and quiet in the neighborhood.
Although migratory bird, a few re-
main with us nearly every winter; more
particularly is this true if wild cherries
and grapes and snilaxe berries are
abundant, showing that the mgrations
of birds are generally governed more by
food supply than by temperature.
Whether those that remain with us
through the winter are the same indi-
viduals that summer here is doubtful,
but we think it more probable that they
are birds that have spent the breeding
season in still more northern regions,
and to which this State may seem quite
southern. IfH
In conclusion, we recommend the
robin to fruit-growers and farmers as
one of their real friends, and bespeak
him a welcome and protection. Give
him the largest liberty of the garden,
orchard, and defend him from small
boys, shot-guns and cats Except stuffed
ones). He will repay you hundred
folI hr, ;nrook o,J 1919