The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-12-30
REVENGEFUL COCK ROBIN.

Constantly Attacks Samaritan He
Suspects of InJuring Offspring.
Who killed cock robin in the Mother
Goose tale has long been answered by
the assassin himself; but out at Fort
Thomas some weeks ago, during the
robins nesting season, the stolid ST.
lence maintained by the rascal who
almost killed cock robin led the saucy
father of the manned and dying bird
to suspect the Good Samaritan who
found the little nesting and rescued
him of being the cause OF the birds
condition.
The robin and his mate built nest
in the honeysuckle vine under the
caves of the veranda, the Cincinnati
a young couple they did not build ex-
pertly. During severe storm in
which much rain and more wind play
ed havoc. the nest In which were the
two nestlings became unfastened from
its mOorings and one of the young
birds was thrown to the ground. 1t
fell about twelve feet and was lying
on the gravel walk, gasping for it's
life in the pelting rain, when the Sa-
marian found it. It's featherless back
was skinned and bruised and the ants
had already attacked it for their
plumber Touched with its suffering.
the Samaritan intended to put it out
of its misery, when he determined to
give it a try for life. He revived 1t
with hot water and creased its bruises
well Then, securing a ladder, he
fixed up the nest, and strengthening
it with sticks and twine put the little
bird back. The proceeding was long
and tedious. during which the mother
bird watched with ceaseless vigil, but
offered no remonstrance.
Before the birding was replaced the
father, who had been on foraging ex-
petition, returned with a luscious
worm The sight of some one bother
ing his nest filled him with wrath, and
Immediately he demonstrated. Be
fore attacking. however. he, unforget-
full of his husbandy. passed the worm
TO his mate.
Then he started a series of swoop-
ing charges aimed at the head of the
birdling's reScuer. So vicious was the
robin that the man was forced to COW
er his head with his arms and ward
off the bird with a stick. When he fin
ished and descended from the ladder
the robins hurried to the nest and
the rescuer of the bird thought the
adventure ended; but not so with cock
robin.
For six long weeks afterward, while
| the birding was recuperating. the
| father bird never left the nest, and
| forced the mother to do all the forag-
| ing Every time the Samaritan put
his foot on that porch or lawn the
| bird perceived him instantly and, ut
tering cries of wrath and danger, new
er failed to swoop at him at full
flight. wheeling of just before collid-
ing with his head. Any other person
could 60 near the nest without being
molested, but the Samaritan never ap-
peared without the robin attacking
him.
If he sat upon the porch, the robin
| would strut before him on the lawn,
walking, not hopping, in an arc and
at the slightest movement would dart
right at his eyes, swerving of when
the man raised his arms to protect
his head. Finally, the birding got
| well and learned to fly, and the nest
was abandoned. Ever since, however,
the robin never allows the Samaritan
to show himself without taking cogni-
zance of his appearance with antago-
nistic cries, though he has ceased to
| fly at him In attack.