N. Y. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. marks from Hon. GEO. GEDDES, this proposition was laid on the table, as being in conflict with the Society's Constitution. Annual Meeting. The Society convened in pursuance of notice, at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 10th, at the Assembly Chamber in this city. The attendance was larger than has been the case for a year or two past, and a spirited contest was anticipated as regards the location of the next State Fair. The meeting was called to order by EDWARD G. FALIE, Esq., of Westchester, President of the Society. The following is an abstract of the Report submitted by the Treasurer: RECEIPTS. $3,814.06 Mr. COMSTOCK of New-York, then moved the usual 3. Messrs. Knickerbocker, Goold, Wendell. Pending the deliberations of this committee, a recess was taken until 5 P. M. On re-assembling at that hour, the following nomi44.00 nations were submitted, and the gentlemen named unanimously elected for the ensuing year : 228.00 50.00 35.00 do. for 1863, 875.00 Salary of Entomologist, 1,000.00 do. Freights to Hamburg Exhibition, 1,000.00 Receipts at Utica Fair-Life Members,... $236.00 All other sources,.. 11,111.78 11,347.78 President JAMES O. SHELDON, Ontario. 3. HERMAN WENDELL, Albany. 4. T. L. HARISON, St. Lawrence. 5. SOLON D. HUNGERFORD, Jefferson. 6. RALPH NEWELL, Delaware. 7. H. T. E. FOSTER. Seneca. 8. WM. A. BIRD, Erie. Cor. Secretary-BENJAMIN P. JOHNSON. Executive Committee-S. CAMPBELL, Oneida; T. C. PETERS, Genesee; ELON COMSTOCK, New-York; R. H. AVERY, Madison: S. R. PINCKNEY, New-York. The committee further reported that two places had been named for the location of the next Fair, Utica and Rochester, and that upon two votes in committee, there had been an equal number for each locality. Mr. Wilson of Oneida, moved that the meeting proceed to a ballot, to designate which of the two places Ishould be selected. Mr. Robinson submitted a motion for the indefinite postponement of the question. Mr. Geddes raised the point of order that the ultimate decision of the question was by the constitution vested in the Executive Committee, and a prolonged debate ensued in which Messrs. Harris, Reed, Peters, Moore 14,724.26 3,016.35 and Conger took part, when Mr. Harris, on behalf of 854.90 the citizens of Rochester, and Mr. Butterfield on behalf of the citizens of Utica, expressing their entire willing$18,595.51 ness to submit their relative claims to the judgment Under the Report submitted to the Legislature at its last ses- of the Board, the question was so referred by unanision, from the Committee of the Society appointed to investi- mous consent. gate the subject of Flax Machinery, no award of the State Appropriation of $2,000 to encourage its improvement, conld be made. At the first meeting of the new Board the Treasurer was therefore directed to deposit this sum at interest with the United States Trust Company of the city of New-York, that it might be held sacred for the purpose for which it was intended. This was immediately done, and both principal and interest as yet remain intact-the latter being probably more than sufficient to cover whatever expenses of committees may attend the past or future action of the Society, and leave the whole fund for award as soon as any invention worthy of the honor shall appear to claim it. As to the fund of $1,000 appropriated by the last Legislature for the payment of freights upon articles sent by citizens of the State to the Hamburg exhibition, the sum already expended or for which the Society is responsible, will amount to $705.38 leaving an unexpended balance as shown in a report submitted herewith to the Legislature, of $294.62, subject to such disposi as that body may direct. The Society's cash balance on hand, as shown in the foregoing report, is $854.90, from which deduct $294.62 unexpended balance of the Hamburg appropriation, and we have $560.28 as the Society's present net cash balance, aside from the sum of Three Thousand dollars ($3,016.35) invested in Hon. T. C. PETERS of Genesee, then offered the following resolution: Resolved-That it is expedient for the Society to hold a meeting for the purpose of carrying out a thorough trial of Implements of Agriculture in the following classes: 1. For preparing the land for the crop. 2. For harvesting and securing the crop. 3. For preparing it for market. This elicited a prolonged and somewhat irrelevant discussion, bearing upon the great importance at the present time of holding such a trial-all the speakers being apparently strongly in its favor. This subject was also committed to the consideration of the Board. In the absence of further business, Mr. JUDD of NewYork laid before the Society a letter setting forth the value of the services rendered to the Agricultural community by Rev. C. E. GOODRICH of Utica, in importing, propagating and experimenting upon the varieties and culture of the Potato. Mr. J. suggested that such services should not go unrewarded, and as age and feeble health had now placed Mr. Goodrich in a position in which a testimonial of the benefit he has conferred upon the farmers of the State would be peculiarly welcome and appropriate, he hoped that action might be taken in that direction, and was willing to head the list with a donation for the purpose. Several other gentlemen took the opportunity of expressing their hearty concurrence in the propositionamong them Mr. Harison of St. Lawrence, Mr. Conger This was accepted on motion of Mr. COREY of Sara- of Rockland, Mr. Cornell of Tompkins, Judge Cheever toga, who then proceeded to offer a resolution as to of Saratoga, and the President and Secretary of the the future location of the State Fairs, covering pros- Society, who referred briefly to the awards made in pectively a period of twelve years. After a few re-past years for the investigations so long and earnestly Wednesday Evening. conducted by Mr. Goodrich. Messrs. Conger and Hari-ing them by an earnest tribute to the intelligent and son were appointed a committee, with the Treasurer useful career of the distinguished agriculturist to of the Society, to secure subscriptions for the testi- whom they refer. He had brought to the cause of monial-to the success of which we refer elsewhere agriculture all the results of a liberal education-of foreign travel, and an earnest love for the life of a farIn one department, he was almost unrivalled. His selection of cattle has been attended with a skill, and with advantages, which are appreciated to this day both in this country and in Europe. His career as a statesman in his service in the State Senate, was a distinguished one: It was that of a man of intelligence and honor, and amidst it all, he never forgot to do all that could be done for the cause he loved so well, that of the science and practice of farming. At his country's call, when the terrible rebellion came into being, he came foremost, seeking only for active service, and in that service-in its consequences-he met his death. In the loss of Colonel Rotch, the Society has to mourn its deprivation of a man of broad thought; a man of integrity and honor, and honesty of usefulness in every duty to which he was called. The President felt the grief of the hour almost too deeply to allow him to put the question on the resolutions, but it was his duty, and the resolutions were unanimously adopted: The evening session was an interesting and instruc-mer. tive one. Mr. JOHN STANTON GOULD, who was appointed by the Executive Committee last season to visit the Western States and thoroughly investigate the cultivation and manufacture of the Sorghum crop, and the progress of the Beet as a sugar-producing plant, read a paper embracing the many interesting and valuable details collected by him. This article will form one of the most valuable contributions to the next volume of the Society's Transactions, as it treats the subject in a more comprehensive and directly practical way than it has heretofore been treated. The conclusions of Mr. Gould, as to the general success of the Sorghum as a farm staple in the Western States, are to the effect that the profits arising from its culture are dependant in very great degree upon warmth and length of season. He showed by statistics carefully collected, that the amount of Syrup that can be made per acre increases as we go from Ohio westward, with the length of season and average temperature of the summer months. The amount of Sugar made from it he found unexpectedly limited, and it is Resolved, That in the death of the Hon. Francis M. Rotch, evident from his remarks (as was surmised from our of a most accomplished and sincere friend of agriculture. To late Vice-President of this Society, we have to mourn the loss previous sources of information,) that as a sugar-mak-natural abilities such as we seldom meet with, he united an ing crop, it has as yet never reached the point of mag- extent of knowledge, the result of study, and a scope of obsernitude which has been sometimes asserted by agricul- prime of life, to contribute more to the development of our agvation which enabled him, though he had but just reached the tural writers. In the production of syrup, the liability ricultural resources and the improvements of the animals of the of the plant to injury from frosts, and of the expressed farm than almost any man in our midst; while the purity of juice (especially in certain conditions of the atmosphere) actions, the kindness of his heart and the urbanity of his manhis character and the high toned principles which regulated his to fermentation before it can be boiled, are tendingners will ever endear him to the memory of those who knew very much to reduce the scale on which it is grown by individual cultivators-who find, moreover, in the present scarcity of labor, that it is both difficult and expensive to secure enough at just the proper time to work up the product of a large surface to advantage. Deep culture and good drainage are shown to be of cardinal importance, for the plant is very impatient of moisture, while it stands a drouth unharmed which curls the leaves of Indian corn. If space permitted, our readers would be interested in a fuller summary of Mr. Gould's remarks, which deserve the highest credit for the impartiality and discriminating judgment they display. him best, in whose recollection he will ever stand forth as a the Secretary of this Society to the family of the deceased, and The proceedings of the Executive Committee upon the death of the Hon. Eliakim Sherrill, formerly a distinguished member of the Society, were on the motion of the Hon. Mr. Cornell read, and, on motion of the Hon. Mr. Kelly, approved and re-affirmed. The President, Mr. FAILE, then delivered the usual address, which was listened to with great interest, and which we propose to place at length before our readOn concluding, the President elect, JAS. O. SHEL DON, Esq., was introduced, and, in taking the chair, expressed his gratitude for the honor, his confidence in the co-operation of the Board, and his hopes that the coming year would add to the records of the Socity's prosperity and success. Dr. ASA FITCH, Entomologist of the Society, read a paper comprising the scientific history of the Cut Worm, together with the close and laborious observations heers. has carried on, during the past season, as to its habits and sub-varieties. This paper was also of unusul interest, and votes of thanks were passed to both the gentlemen with great unanimity. Thursday's Proceedings. On Thursday the Rooms were opened for the usual exhibition, which of late years has not been of the extent that should be elicited by the prizes offered. We publish elsewhere an official list of the awards. After a vote of thanks to Ex-President Faile and the retiring officers, proposed by Hon. Geo. Geddes, Mr. Butterfield of Utica, acknowledged for himself and the citizens of that place the pleasure derived from the Fair of 1863, the uniformly kind and honorable treatment received at the hands of the Board, and the ex-gratifying mention in the President's address of the exertions made there to comply with the Society's requirements and promote the objects of its exhibition. Mr. KELLY offered the following resolutions: Meantime a meeting was held for general discussion, of which our space will not at present permit an tended notice. The subject of Manures and their application was continued from the last meeting at the Utica Fair. Resolved, That the New-York State Agricultural Society deplores the action of the last Legislature in bestowing upon a cultural interests of the State, the whole of the vast land grant single institution, and that not the representative of the agrimade by Congress for the promotion of agricultural and melaw, so that the New-York State Agricultural College shall rethe present Legislature the repeal or modification of the said ceive a full share of this noble grant, that thus the intention of During the day the Report of A. BALDWIN, Esq., the Society's Delegate at the Hamburgh Exhibition, was presented to the Executive Committee, by whom it will be submitted to the Legislature. The Flag received from the authorities of Hamburgh through Mr. Bald-chanical education; and this Society respectfully urges upon win, and a handsomely prepared collection of Seeds from the Swedish Government, through Hon. J. A. WRIGHT, were duly acknowledged. Thursday Evening. The Society met at the Rooms. The report of premiums awarded was read by the Secretary. Mr. Kelly offered the following resolutions, prefac Congress may be fulfilled, in the advancement of agricultural science. Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing resolution be respect fully presented to his Excellency the Governor, and to the Hon- The Discussion on Cheese Making at Rome, cooling. When cooled below 70 degrees, leave it. In the morning first mix the cream with the milk, then add the morning's milk. Apply heat until the temperature is raised to about 82 degrees-in cool weather The process of Cheese Manufacture was then discussed at considerable length. A few of the remarks and ideas elicited we give, and would be glad to re-higher. Now add the coloring matter, and then the port them in detail did space allow. Mr. Jesse Williams of Rome, termed the father of the cheese factory system, responded to a call, and said the best thing he had seen published on the subject, was from the pen of Mr. A. Bartlett of Ohio, who was present, and he presumed would be willing to talk on the subject to the Convention. rennet in sufficient quantity to produce coagulation in from 40 to 60 minutes. The milk is now kept agitated the curd is sufficiently fixed, divide as quickly and until coagulation commences; then left quiet. When with as little agitation as possible; as soon as this is done add 6 to 8 degrees of heat; after working the curd a while at this temperature, let it stand and settle; then remove portions of the whey; now break to 96 or 98 degrees, work the curd at this temperature up the curd carefully with the hands. Then add heat until it will not pack together. Should it still pack together, raise the temperature a little, seldom ever higher than 100 degrees. Cover up, and examine once in a while to see if the curd is done. When done dip is two and seven-tenths pounds of salt to one hundred it on to the draining-sink, and salt. A common rule of cured or solid cheese. After adding the salt to the curd, remove it to the pressing-room and dip it into the hoops, and press gently at first; usually let it stand a few minutes before applying any pressure. Would not apply very great pressure till after the cheese was turned. When fit to handle, take it from the press, turn and bandage, return to the press again, and apply strong pressure until the next day. He rubbed the cheese over with whey oil when taken from the press, and continued to turn and rub them every day until they are well cured. Should they show signs of dry Mr. Bartlett responded that in the article referred to, he had given Mr. Williams' own practice as nearly as he could. He was very ignorant of the whole subject of Cheese-Making. A few years since he thought he knew something about it, but lately he had availed himself of every means possible to acquire information on the subject, and he found now he did not know as much as he did five years ago, or in other words, the more he learned about it, the more he saw to be learned. It was not a thing to be learned in a moment, but time and persevering effect were necessary. We were as yet deficient in facts. No one could tell what proportion of milk was solid matter. He was satisfied that all the chemical analyses of milk were incorrect, and we could not get teil whether we ought to obtain ten, twelve or fifteen per cent. in cheese of the weight of milk. Some claimed we shouldness, another coat of oil was given them. He prepared the rennets by soaking in water with obtain fifteen per cent. He generally obtained about a plenty of salt added. Considered it absolutely necesten per cent. in dry cheese; sometimes a little more. sary that the calf should be five days old-ten days is Milk, it was well known, was composed of three sub-better-should have full meals regularly until 16 to 18 stances, butter, casein, and milk sugar. The two for mer should be incorporated in the cheese-the latter There were important questions yet to be determined, as-What proportion of the milk is cheese? Is any portion of the cheese milk-sugar? What proportion should be water? not. Mr. Bartlett said, in reply to various questions: A chief cause of waste was ignorance in regard to the process of manufacture. Milk could be handled so as to throw away from two to ten per cent., and yet good judges say it has been done right. There were two kinds of waste, one of curd and one of butter. The curd passes off with the whey. The butter is contain ed in little sacs, which become mechanically entangled in the curd, and disturbance of the curd tends to set them free and allow them to pass off. Any process of manufacture which divides into minute particles, wastes both the curd and butter; so long as the globules of butter remain unbroken, they can be mixed with the milk. The cream should be mixed with the milk cold, as heating bursts the globules. After the rennet is put in, the milk should be stirred until it thickens, in order to properly entangle the butter globules. The less agitation after coagulation the better, and the process of dividing the coagulated milk should be as quick as possible-should not to be over five minutes. Blocks, one-fourth of an inch square, was fine enough. There was more waste caused by breaking the curd than in any other way. He did not think it possible to make good cheese from milk newly drawn from the cow. Milk that had been drawn two miles was in a better state for manufacturing than milk just drawn from the cow. While the animal heat is in the milk it is injured but little for cheese by agitation. Several members of the Convention expressed a wish to hear Mr. Bartlett repeat the details of his process of manufacture. Having consented, he said: hours before being killed. Take the rennet out, turn and salt it, then turn it back and salt it. Lay it in a pickle till thoroughly pickled; then dry it and keep it dry. than any other gentleman, because he appears to know what he is talking about, as well as to be a man of excellent practical sense and experience-also because he occupied more time of the convention than any one else, owing, I suppose, to the severe catechising which he had to undergo. His suggestions are worthy the attention of all manufacturers who heard him speak. It was well observed that the art of cheese making could not be reduced to a set of rules. Good judgment, observation and practice, were always necessary to success in this business. We have detailed more of Mr. Bartlett's remarks Statement of P. J. Sherwood's Dairy. I have in my dairy seven cows. They are a mixture of the native, Durham and Ayrshire breeds. I have in my dairy a nearly pure bred Ayrshire, which produce 21 pounds of butter in one day, from 40 pounds of milk. The same cow produced 164 pounds of butter in ten days, during the last days of July; in both cases she was fed on grass alone. My cows were wintered on hay and straw, with an occasional feeding of carrots. During the spring, when in milk, each cow received four quarts of carrots, and two quarts of corn and oatmeal daily, with all the good hay they will consume. The seven cows run in a pasture of about 14 acres during the forepart of the season, and till the 1st or 15th of September. About the 15th of Aug. they are shut into a lot of about 4 acres, and receive a good sup As soon as the milk was received at night and drawn ply of green fodder three times a day. During this into the vat, a stream of cold water should be admit- time my pasture becomes laden with a bountiful ted to cool it if the weather is warm; agitate while supply of aftermath. This, with the help of my meadow, gives me sufficient run for the rest of the season. One chief feature in the treatment of a dairy is regularity in milking. During the long summer days care should be taken that each cow is milked at least every twelve hours, and that regularly. I also deem it a matter of great importance to give succulent food, as the pasture becomes dry, that we may keep up a full flow of milk. The results of my dairy are as follows: Amount of butter sold from 7 cows,. 1,363 pounds. Amount of butter consumed and on hand, 300 do. Amount of cheese 50 lbs., 2 lbs. of cheese equal one of butter,.... 25 do. Whole amount of butter,..... 1,688 pounds. Average amount per cow,. 241% do. The above statement was submitted to the officers of the Delaware County Fair and awarded a premium. CHEESE FROM OLD AND YOUNG COWS. EDS. CO. GENT.-I thought I would write a small experiment of my own; if you think it worth publication do so. The question is often asked, how much more cheese old cow's milk will make than heifer's milk. I had nine heifers this fall, five twos and four threes, and we milked the night milk and weighed it and the mornings milk; the two messes added together made 63 lbs; we made that into curd, all drained ready to salt, that weighed 12 lbs. We then took the same number of pounds of old cow's milk, and worked it off in the same way, and it made 124 lbs. of drained curd, before salting. I would like to hear from others through the COUNTRY GENT. and CULTIVATOR. East Otto, Catt. Co., Dec. 18, 1863. HOME-BREWED ALE. H. S. G. Burton, in the Rural New-Yorker, gives his method of making home-brewed ale as follows: "The art of brewing is very easy to be understood, for it is exactly similar to the process of making tea. Put a handful of malt into a tea-pot; then fill it with water-the first time rather under boiling heat. After it has stood sometime, pour off the liquor just as you would tea, and fill up the pot again with boiling water. In a similar manner pour that off, and so go on filling up and pouring off till the malt in the pot is tasteless, which will be the case when all its virtue is extracted. The liquor or malt tea must then be boiled with a few hops in it, and when it becomes cool enough-that is about blood heat-add a little yeast to ferment it, and the thing is done. This is the whole art and process of brewing; and to brew a large quantity requires the same mode of proceeding as it would to make a tea breakfast for a regiment of soldiers. A peck of malt and four ounces of hops will produce ten quarts of ale, and of a better quality than can usually be purchased." Various Recipes for Housekeepers. TRY GENTLEMAN, the following recipes from her “Young Mrs. E. A. CALL of Fabius, N. Y., sends for the COUNHouse-Keeper," which is advertised on another page of this paper: Sausages. Take fat and lean meat, cut off the rind and chop very fine, and season as follows: To twenty pounds of meat put eight ounces of salt, four ounces of sage, and pepper to suit the taste; mix thoroughly with the hand; fill tin pans two-thirds full, spread a cloth over the top of the meat, and a board over the top of the pan, and set in a cool place. Chicken Pie.-Boil two chickens tender; season with butter, pepper and salt; thicken the gravy with a very little flour; make the dough as for short biscuit, and roll it out as thick as your hand, large enough to line a small tin pan; dip in the chicken and a part of the gravy; put on a top crust and pinch it down well; make an opening on the top with a knife, an inch or two long, and prick it with a fork. Veal and beef answer every purpose for this pie. The gravy left in the pot take to the table in a gravy dish. Fried Cake.-One cup of sugar, one of sour cream, one of butter-milk, one teaspoonful of soda; add a little salt and a little ground cinnamon or spice; mix into a stiff dough, cut in strips and fry in lard. Fruit Cake.-One pound of flour, one pound of sugar, five eggs, half pound of butter, one pint sour cream, one pound of raisins, a large teaspoonful of ground cinnamon, one teaspoonful of soda, frost and trimmings. The raisins should be chopped a very little. Buckwheat Cakes.-Take one quart of buttermilk or sour milk, and one of water, one-half tea-spoonful of soda, and a little salt; stir in buckwheat flour enough to make a thinnish batter, and let it set over night; in the morning add another half teaspoonful of soda and a little more flour; bake on hot griddle. When done they should be put into some kind of a dish where they can be covered without the cover resting upon the cakes, as it has a tendency to make them heavy. Frosting.-Beat the white of an egg to a stiff froth; afterwards stir in ten teaspoonfuls of pulverized white sugar. The above quantity will do for a common sized cake. Spread on while the cake is hot. Fabius, N. Y. ELIZA A. CALL. RUPTURES IN ANIMALS. MESSRS. TUCKER & SON-It sometimes happens, even under the most careful management, that the animals of farmers are troubled with ruptures or breaches. When this is the case the animal may be relieved and in some instances cured, by bathing the parts effected, twice a day with a strong decoction of White Oak bark. This is a powerful astringent, and therefore has a tendency to contract the parts affected. The animal should be kept quiet until the healing is completed, as any strain or extra exertion may counteract the effect of the application. Where White Oak grows, this extract is easily obtained by boiling the bark in water until the water becomes black. If applied warm, the effect will be sooner seen. The appli cation followed for a week will show a great difference in the appearance of the animal and in instances cure. Commence as soon after the misfortune as possible. Messrs. Tilden, at their dispensary at New Lebanon, N. Y., prepare this with other valuable extracts, and can probably accommodate those who are not in a White Oak region. WILLIAM BACON. Richmond, Mass., Jan. 18, 1864. THE WHITE JAPANESE MELON. A correspondent sends us the following notice of this melon: This melon was first introduced to the public by that enterprising horticulturist, Win. S. Carpenter, Esq. I understand that the seed was brought to this country by some member of Com. Perry's Japan Expedition. Though this variety has been known to a few cultivators for some years, it is to some people quite new. The engraving represents the general shape of the fruit, which is usually globular, though sometimes it is slightly oblong. The furrows are very shallow, and the surface but sparingly netted; the color is one of its most remarkable characteristics, being nearly white, or at least a greenish white. The flesh, which is very thick in proportion to the size of the melon, is greenish, tinged with orange. When well ripened, the whole flesh is eatable, the rind being scarcely thicker than the skin of an apple. The texture, sweetness and flavor of the flesh are all that I desire. It is a prolific bearer, and should be introduced in place of many inferior kinds now cultivated. THE ROBIN-Turdus migratorius. LINN. This well known and familiar bird is entirely different from the European Robin Redbreast, with which it must not be confounded. In size it is nearly twice as large, and in shape and in color it is entirely different. The nest and eggs of the English bird are very different, being five or six in number; and the shell white, more or less freckled with light red. The American Robin, on the contrary, builds a large nest of grass, and thoroughly plasters it inside with soft mud. When this hardens it forms a substantial structure, which will often resist the elements for a whole winter. The author has found these nests without the mud lining, only this is rather the exception than otherwise. When the nest has been completed the female deposits her eggs-four in number, and of a beautiful sea-green. They measure, on an average, about 1 inch and 2-16ths in length, by 13-16ths in breadth, although there is considerable variation in the size, some eggs measuring more and some less than this. The range of country inhabited by the Robin is vast-comprising indeed the whole of temperate North America. Wherever he appears he is generally re THE ROBIN. spected and loved, and many a school-boy who would not hesitate to plunder the nest of the screaming Cat Bird, would not touch that of the Robin. That the Robin is capable of imitating the notes of some birds, would appear from a Philadelphia newspaper, from which I clip the following paragraph: "A ROBIN in New Canaan, Conn., has been taking music lessons somewhere, and astonishes the people of that town by singing the song of Whipoorwill as perfectly as the original performer." he forms an excellent pet, both on account of his song, The Robin is capable of being kept in a cage, where which bears a great resemblance to that of the Brown Thrush, and on account of his being so common and easily tamed. Sour Gum, and also of poke-berries. An amusing The Robin is excessively fond of the berries of the anecdote is told by WILSON, in relation to their eating the latter. He says that in January, 1807, two young men, in one excursion after these birds, shot thirty dozens. In the midst of such butchery, some humane novel and ingenious manner. person wishing to stop the slaughter, effected it in a He caused a paragraph to be inserted in the newspapers stating that in consequence of the immense numbers of the poke-berries that the Robins fed upon, they had become unwholesome if not dangerous food, and that several persons had already suffered from feeding upon them. The strange appearance of the bowels of the birds seemed to confirm this statement, and in consequence the demand for and consumption of them immediately stopped, and thus, says WILSON, "motives of self-preservation produced at once what all the pleadings of humanity could not effect." In the latter part of the summer they form in large flocks and resort to the wild-cherry and sour-gum trees, where they are shot in large numbers. The following is an accurate description of the Robin: "It measures nine inches and a half in length; the bill is strong, an inch long, and of a full yellow, though sometimes back of the neck and tail is black; the back and rump of an black, or dusky, near the tip of the upper mandible; the head ash color; the wings are black, edged with light ash; the inner tips of the two exterior tail feathers are white; three small spots of white border the eye; the throat and upper part of the breast is black, the former streaked with white; the whole of the rest of the breast down as far as the thighs, is of a dark orange; belly and vent white, slightly waved with dusky ash; legs, dark brown; claws black and strong. The colors of the female are more of the light ash, less deepened with black; and the orange on the breast is much paler, and more broadly skirted with white."-Wilson's American Ornithology. vol. I, p. 35. J. P. NORRIS. |