Teachers' Manual of Bird-Life; A Guide to the Study of Our Common Birds (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899. Excerpt: ... It seems a long step from these gentle, refined Thrushes to their comparatively prosaic cousin, the familEobin, iar Robin. But the Robin has his Memia migratoria. place, and in March his cheery song is Plate Lxxxix. quite as effective as the Hermit's hymn in June. During the summer Robins are distributed throughout North America from the Gulf States and southern end of the Mexican tableland, northward to Labrador and Alaska. In the winter they may be found in numbers from Virginia southward, small flocks and single birds being occasionally met with as far north as Massachusetts. Robins are among our earliest migrants, appearing in the vicinity of New York city between February 20 and March 1. Nesting is begun about April 15, the mud-lined nest and greenish blue eggs being too well known to require description. Two, or even three broods may be raised. In June, the young of the first brood with some adult males resort each night to a chosen roost, often frequented by many thousands of birds. The fall migration begins in September, but the birds are with us in roving bands until December. About the time that we first hear the Robin's ringing welcome to spring we may listen for the Bluebird's more Bluebird gentle greeting. Doubtless the bird Sialia sialis. has been with us all winter, for BluePlate xc. birds winter in small numbers as far north as southern Connecticut, often living near groves of cedars, which offer them both food and shelter. In the Southern States they are far more abundant at this season, gathering in flocks containing hundreds of individuals. The Bluebird is the first of our smaller birds to begin housekeeping, and early in April it may be seen prospecting about the site of last year's nest in a bird box or hollow tree, and the bluish whi...