Robin

the familiar name of a small red-breasted European bird. The English robin is a familiar frequenter of parks, door-yards, and fields, living on seeds and insects and worms. It is a sweet singer. Robin Redbreast is a familiar character in juvenile literature. Few children have not thought kindly of the robin as they have heard how he covered the "Babes in the Wood" with leaves.

The American robin has a red breast also, but it is unfortunately named. It is really a large thrush, with the familiar, kindly ways of the robin for which the early settlers named it. It is found from eastern Mexico to Alaska, throughout North America east of the Rocky Mountains. It winters in the southern half of its range. The robin is a fine singer. The nest, made of twigs and coarse grass, lined with mud and fine grasses, is placed preferably in the crotch of a low scrub oak or fruit tree. Eggs, three to five, greenish blue. To thrive, young robins require their own weight of worms daily. Early in the season the robin lives chiefly on grubs and worms, which it is an expert in locating in lawns. Later, it is quite an adept at making off with cherries. In autumn, Northern robins migrate to the Gulf States. Their winter food consists largely of berries, like those of the American ivy, holly, cedar, and mistletoe. In early spring, robin is back again. "The return of the robin is commonly announced by the newspapers, like that of eminent or notorious people to a wateringplace, as the first authentic notification of spring," says Lowell. The following lines by Lucy Larcom show how secure Robin is of popular favor:

An attempt is now being made to introduce the American robin into England. During the summer of 1909 several pairs of robins nested and raised young in their new home, and seemed as content as if on their native soil.