The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-08
SOMEWHAT OF ROBINS.
a Study Of the Peculiarities Of the Red
Breasted Birds-Their Family Isolation.

Written for the Sunday Journal.
The robins are to the outdoor world what
household words are within. They are an essen
tia1 adjunct of rural life and not happening or
accident They claim willingly accorded par
agraph in every description of country living
and the flowing measures of innumeraoie poets
and rhymsters have been graced and vivlfied
by the appymentioning of this favorite warbler
Mrs. jackson would call them "a symphony in
feathers"
But it is to speak concerning some OF their
habits that have to do with now. The robin
has Blackstone of its own-an unwritten code
of laws, recognized and abided by and seldom
violated or departed from, 1 have reason to be-
lieve. after many years of careful and loving
observation. Their domestic economy is well
worth studying. have noticed that, as rule,
they do not increase, in one particular locality.
as the barn swallows, sparrows and pewees.
Such is the case, no matter how favorable circum-
stances are for their multiplying and enlarging
their colony. For twenty years robins nest
has been built in my orchard Only single
nest, and in one particular tree. and in the self
same crotch of the tree. No accident has
befallen this nest to my knowledge. 1t has been
1nade-the eggs laid and incubated, the young
reared to healthy, robust birdhood, and not
withstanding, I said, there has never been
built but one nest in the orchard and but one
pair of robins about at a time. They come
early the original pair, or new householders.
and in two instances have remained
through the winter, But always pair and no
Have these birds patent of pre-emp-
ton, why is it that every tree in the orchard
has not its robins nesta And where do the off
spring go, all but the twainl And why do
they gof There is Modes and Persian law in
effect that no robin shall be harmed on the
place. They are sacred from violence OF gun or
snare and though they pick every cherry on the
farm, they have established the right by long
usage and are left unmolested in the exercise OF
this one uncomfortable trait Of theirs. They
have learned the hollowness of the scarecrow,
which in the spirit of tradition, is annually
raised for their discontinue, and will even
perch on the broom stick arm and audaciously
pick the choicest fruit Andas concerns shoo-
ing" and like infantile measures for protection
of the CROP they regard them as nice bits of
buffoonery and are amused accordingly and
cooly proceed, filing their jacketswith oxhearts.
The robin likes best to build in the apple tree
and seldom builds elsewhere, unless sometimes
in the corner of rail fence in a sheltered spot.
Much more mud is used when placed here than
when in tree and the structure is stouter and
more imposing in its manner of architecture.
The adaptation to this mode of building is plain.
But the apple tree is the favorite place OF build
ing. / have wondered why. Where have OBJ
served them most trees of different kinds
abound and some of them seemingly very well
adapted to their mode of structure.
Especially the quaking asp, with its
continually recurring crotches and three-tined
forks. Near the place of which write, stands
an old orchard in the woods, planted half GEN.
fury ago by the Pottawatomie Indians 1t is not
near a house or human habitation, and yet
robin builds upon one of the trees although not
another pair can be found in the forest. The
domesticity of tree and bird makes their world
akin" and this pair of birds prefer this sheltered,
rugged old pioneer to a livelier and more cheer
full locality. / have wondered if these lonely
wood robins were the heirs of thisssequestered
homestead Fifty years ago did their grand
father and grandmother take possession of this
or1xy hale nod ind
branches sing songs to the dusky babies in the
wigwams and feed their own from the crumbs
that fell from the primitive board of the red
mani l somehow respect this pair OF birds
more thar all others, who still build IN the In
dian orchard They the old Mayfower
stock, fancy, and are vain OF their lineage and
are exclusive and have a coat of arms. With
lunch basket in hand make an annual summer
pilgrimage to see them 1t Is a pleasant Mecca
to one who loves quiet and almost unbroken
silence. / fs3 them each yeSr always the same
unsocial, distant and conservative, and have
vaguely suspected, lay in the shade near
them, endeavoring to be friendly and social,
that they were bordering within themselves
concerning my pedigree, and if my name was in
the Blue Book. This same pair of birds, Or
birds of their household have kept me at
length for fifth of century. And yet this
summer no doubt shall pay them my usual
visit of state.
The robin is not giddy, sentimental bird. 1t
looks life in the face with hard, practical eye
and estimates the cost of living and possibly
keeps its accounts" Its wooing is short and
to which it had unwillingly subscribed. Its song
is of louder, clearer kind for few days, and
then for season it almost entirely ceases,
cept for brief time at morning and night,
busy they mud-carrying straw gathering
and nest-lining Until the brood is fairly out
of the nest and in the way to become expert
flyers in time, the singing, such there may
happen to be, has absent-mnded. pre-occu-
pied sound, and is suggestive of accident rather
than design or inclination. Their family
eneross every minute of the day, and their lives
are a round of work and duties. If they do not
raise second brood, which is sometimes the
case, their songs become more frequent, until
the season of migration comes. But taken as a
race of songsters. they are far from being pro-
life singers. They are sparing of their music,
and quantity never cloy the listeners. Like
Patti, their numbers are sweet, but few and far
between. S. B. MCMANUs.
LIMA. Ind.