Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-01
THE ROBIN. SPRING, AND THE GUN.
If This Bird Is Protected by Law Then
There Are Many Nio'stors.
.t,-.t...,, fyf tho 1f-VufCl1

The advent Of spring, and with II the
robin. raises the mooted question OF
whether or not the robin-red-brcast is the
bird intended to be- projected by section
.o,a code Of Virginia, Edition oi 1870
under the name Wood-rObin.
a is said that several persons have been
fined in Augusta county for killing TINS
bird and the local papers are now urging
the enforcement OF the law in Allegheny
and perhaps in other sections.
DURING last spring quite number OF
these birds were shot here. and the At
toruev for the Commonwealth announced
his intention 80 institute proceedings. ha
ATTORNEYS here investigated the question:
and SO convinced the prosecuting attor-
nov that 10 PROCEEDINGS We're had, and
as might be expected the interest IN the
sport seems 20 Lax from that time on.
From a Report on the Birds Of Penn
sylvania." made by l.. II. Warren VI. d.,
ornithoiogist Pennsylvania state Board
Of Agriculture, edition of 1880, The follow
ing facts are gathered:
",vooJthrush: Wood-robin. go Length
about inches: extent about - lncn'si
bIl blackish. yellow at base legs Hesn-
color: iris brown: upper parts clear GIN
namon-brown, brightest on top OF head
and shading into olive on rump and tail;
lower parts. pure white, and everywhere,
cxcopt on chin. throat middle Of belly.
and under tail coverts, marked with
rouudish, dusky, spots
"Uabitat.-EasteTn United states 10
plains; North to southern Michigan on
tario. and Massachusetts; south in winter
to Guatemala and cuba.
Common inhabitant Of woods; espe-
cially delights TO frequent bushes IN wood
land, near streams or other Watsry places
The sweet. ringing, bell-llke notes are
such that 1t justly ranks as one of our
most entertaining songsters
4 DIFFERENT BIRD.
The colored plate shows "A very different
birJ from our robin-red- d-hreast-Which is
probably the bird called the American
robiu-and described as-Length about
q II. extent. about l6 inches. bill. yell
low. upper mandiblc tipped with black;
iris brown: legs and feet. bTOwnish above.
plain grayish: blackish. on head, tail.
and sides of neck: lower parts reddish
brown. paler IN female; lower part Of
belly anal region and under tail-courts.
white: some specimens have under-tMl
coverts. spotted with graylsh-bro"n' outer
tail feathers tipped with white. young are
spotted above and below.
By farmers and fruit-growers the robin
is very generally regarded as nuisance.
because OF his fondness for various small
fruits. Dr. Warren, however, considers
this bird Of mcalculable value TO farm
crs. lie says:
Upon the first arrival of the main body
of the birds. early in the spring long be-
fore any fruits are ripe. they throw them
selves into newly -ploughed fields. and scat
ter over meadows. lawns, and parks, in
eager search for worms and grubs that.
later In the season. would prove invincible
TO the agriculturist were not their
rayagcs thus stayed in advance by the
friendly army OF robins"
lie denounces the prejudice which some
persons entertain against the robin as
and the wholesale slaughter
of the birds which annually takes place in
many localities as being as senseless as
Il is cruel j. r. M'ALLISTER.
Warm Springs, Va, March 26. 1894.