New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1915-08-14

part in the warfare against insects and
other foes to mans industry and con-
tributes it's share to mans welfare.
The value of birds to the farmer is
plain enough, but we do not usually
think Of birds as having any direct re-
| lation to the public health. 10 prove
that they do however it is only neces-
sary to state that 500 mosquitoes nave
been found in the stomach of a single
night hawk. AS mosquitoes are
| known to cary the germs of such Sc
rious diseases as malaria it is evident
that by destroying them, birds are
confering an important benefit on
man.
| The robin dominates birddom with
his strong aggressive personality, his
voice rings out strong and clear in the
early morning chorus, and more ten
derby subdued at twilight, it still
rises above all the sleepy notes about
him, whether lightly tripping over
the lawn after the early worm or
rising with his sharp quick cry Of
alarm when startled, to his nest near
by. Every motion is decided, alert,
and free. No pensive hermit of the
woods, like his counsins, the thrushes,
| is this joyous, vigorous bird of the
morning. Such a presence is inspirit-
ing.
No bird exce1s the robin in the var
iety of vocal EXPRESSION no other bird
is able to give SO many shades of
meaning to a single note. From the
soft coaxing note of the dove to the
harsh quick notes Of rage, and here
the robin seems more nearly human
than any of its kind.
There is nothing that attracts more
birds about the house than a drinking
dlsh, large enough for a bath tub as
Wen ana certainly no bird delights n
sprlnkling the water over his back
more than the robin, often aided in
his additions by the scattering of the
sparrows. A drinking fountain may
be purchased ready for use or manu-
featured at home. Any shallow re-
ceptacle will do, but it must be raised
above the reach of lurking cats. While
the robin is famous splasher his neat
ness stops there. A robins nest is no
tOriously dirty within, and so careless
ly constructed of weed stalks, grasses,
and mud that heavy summer shower
brings more robins nests to the ground
then we like to think about. The col
or of the eggs as every one knows has
the number of eggs laid and two
broods are often reared in the same
nest.
Too much stress has been laid or
the mischief done by the robins in the
cherry trees and strawberry patches
and too little upon the quantity Of
worms and insects they devour. The
American robins really prefers wild
the man who wants to free his orchard
of insects should allow a tree or two
for the birds or plant some wild null
berries (Which ripen about the same
time as the cherry for these profit
able tenants of field and orchard
Bird houses providing shelter cau
be made at practically no expense
and your time and, effort will be amp
ly repaid by these jolly little tenants.
They may be made of three stumps
real or artificial, boxes, cottages, bar
rel houses, flower pots, tin cans,
shelves, and all kinds of contraptions
Mr.. Ernest Thomson Seton went so
ar as to construct on his place a huge
artificial stump filed with imitati ii
wood pecker holes. Robins may DC
encouraged by shelves conveniently
placed beneath the roofs of piazzas
or sheds.
If we attract the birds in summer we
must furnish them with proper nest
ing places, shelter food, and also wa
ter, and if we want to keep them IN
winter we must again furnish them
with cover and food; and always pro-
tect them from their enemies The |
food consists of crumbs, suet, millet |
Il fho 1iya
The male robin comes to us as +,
early as March and the female comes !
in April, staying until October and !
November. AS soon as Mrs. Robin ar
rives, she gets busy selecting a suit /
able place for her nest, but often - |
constructs last years nest. BY the end |
of June the first brood are ready to |
leave the nest and tAe mother bird is |
occupied with the cares of a second |
family and the male is said to return |
each day to assist in the duties of
hOmema king.
Whatever the weather we can al |
ways hear the robin, often in the rain
singing, cheerily, cheer up, cheerily,
cheer up.
And 1 say to you all, if you5 would
reap the purest pleasures of youth,
manhood, and old age, go to the birds
and through them be brought within
the ennobling the influences of nature