Middletown transcript., 1884-02-15
The Robin.

such Well-knit figure, fine head and
erect carriage, who can blame him if he
exhibits a trifing conceit His is a
familiar figure on our lawns, now hop
ping quickly along and now running
swiftly, pausing after each dash, and
peering up to look around. See him as
he makes another swift run of few
feet, then bends eagerly forward, ap-
pearing to listen intently. Suddenly
he darts his bill down, and, with the
aid of the glasses, we see him drag a
long earth-worm from out the grass
roots. | have never been able to
determine with any satisfaction to
myself whether it is his sense of hear
ing or sight which guides him to his
food his attitude Of intense attention
for moment before darting on his prey,
would seem to indicate that the former
was the case, but again he may be only
watching intently, as it is possible that
the squirming Of the worm, as he pushes
his way to the surface, may cause
tremor among the blades Of grass not
visible to our coarser vision, but easily
perceptible to our little lynx-eyed
friend. At all events there is a
moments pause each time before the
final lunge, which almost invariably
results in a capture. If the tender
morsal happens to be an extra large
one, it is amusing to watch him
e freshen his grip" as it we're, and
back off, until stretched to its utmost,
out comes the worm, and it's wriggling
length appears for an instant only, as
red-breast uncerenloniously gulps him
down.
Our friend is fond Of living near us,
and builds almost anywhere: in maple,
elm, spruce, on the lawn, in the orchard,
or, in fact, in the most convenient spot
he may chance upon. The location,
however, once selected for his nest, he
will occupy year after year. High or
low seems to make little difference.
AS to meterials for his nest, he is not
over particular. Though formed chiefly
of wisps of hay and dry grasses, its
makeup will often contain bits Of
paper, string, hair, and alwas quantity
of mud, seemingly intended to give it
stability. The interior is carefully
lined with soft warm fibers of bark, hair
and grass, and great attention is paid to
this part of the work, His temper, am
sorry to say, is not altogether as lovely
his appearance. When a family jar
occurs among the feathered inhabitants
in his vicinity, although they may not
be Of his own kind, you will see him
streak off for the scene of the rumpus,
to mingle his angry notes in the general
roar. He is a kind husband, though,
and ever on the alert to protect his
family. His shrill cry of distress will
summon all his companions within
hearing, and their united efforts will
often disconcert and drive away feline
intruders, to say nothing Of crows,
blackbirds and other egg-sucking, nest
destroying vermin. Should he have
the good fortune to discover an owl he
supremely happy, and will join with
the sparrows in raising such din about
the poor things ears as to put it
ANONYMOUSLY to fight. A good song
ster he is at his best during the breed
ing season, and it is surprise to many,
who are familiar with his ordinary
monotonous cry of "bob bob ! bob p
to hear him launch into such an ecstasy
of song, often insisting that he can
not be the performer. He is capable of
a great deal in the musical line at this
season, however. At the bath he is
inclined to domineer over others who
may be in possession on his arrival,
and 1 have noticed with interest that
the English sparrow moves off at once
on his appearing, or is forced to leave,
often in spite Of noisy expostulation.
He will wash in company, provided he
is not crowded but if this happens, be
at once clears the board.
In the Autumn his whole nature
changes; congregating in large
focks, he becomes exceedingly shy and
difficult Of approach, and at this season
is a favGrite object of persuit with the
swarms Of pot hunters who infest our
neighborhood. A great deal has been
said in regard to his destruction of
fruit. True he will eat the cherries,
and by-the-by, he is cOnnoisSeur as
regards the cherry, and we boys always
used to select those that bore his mark
as being the most luscious. He affects
the strawberry also to some extent, and
occasionally varies his menu with a
fine grape or two, but the damage he
does is light compared to that inflicted
by others, the imported nuisance, for
instance. 1t may be that he causes
wholesale destruction in some sections,
as is written Of him, but l cannot
believe all of it, and 1 am rather in
clined to think that if pains were taken
to carefully observe, the greater part of
the sins Of which the pretty fellow is
accused would be brought home to
81 some other man. Poorest And
| Stream.
A STORY is in circulation that is
rather absurd on it's face that Tom
Mast, the caricaturist, whose pictures
have had a great presence of absences
lately from Harper's Weekly, is about
to sue the Harpers for not using his
cartoons. 1t is alleged that they still
pay him $40, 900 per year for cartoons
which he still makes, but they shelve
them and he is mad about it. Well,
| 81