X THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



relates to its occurrence in Maine. Descriptions of the nests 

 and eggs are taken as far as possible from specimens actually 

 in my collection and which have been collected in Maine. Many 

 species do not breed in Maine, and in such instances as well 

 as in instances where Maine collected nests were not at hand 

 the descriptions were necessarily taken from specimens from 

 other regions, such regions being generally mentioned. In 

 cases where the nests and eggs were not in my collection I 

 have been obliged to quote from the published descriptions of 

 other authors, at the same time giving credit to the source of 

 such information. In general however the portion of the text 

 now under consideration is as far as possible and for the 

 greater part the result of the author's own observations and 

 experience. 



In many cases notes regarding the nesting, song and other 

 habits of certain species are the result of observation of only a 

 very few individuals of the species. It is well known that 

 some species vary in habits in different localties. For this 

 reason the author wishes it distinctly understood that when he 

 states certain things are so or are not so regarding a species 

 which happens to be under discussion, that such statements of 

 the author are to be understood as being the results of his own 

 observation in the regions where he has observed the species, 

 and it is to be especially understood that any statements by 

 the author are not to be interpreted as denying that other 

 observers may have observed the opposite to be true of a 

 species elsewhere. We are all liable to understand things 

 differently, and the author has endeavored to describe and 

 interpret things from his personal point of view as carefully 

 and accurately as possible. 



The incubation period is subject to considerable personal 

 leeway in its interpretation. It is obviously a matter of personal 

 opinion to decide just when a bird begins incubating. For 

 example suppose a bird lays six eggs, one each day, and is on 

 the nest only for very short periods until the full complement 



