270 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



common summer resident, (Morrell); saw one on river at Pittsfield, Dec. 27, 

 1905, (Johnson). Waldo; common summer resident, (Knight). Washing- 

 ton; abundant summer resident, (Boardman). York; common on Saco 

 River, (Adams). 



The species occurs throughout the State along waterways 

 and about the lakes and ponds where there are suitable nest- 

 ing accommodations. Along the coast they arrive slightly earlier 

 than about the inland waterways, appearing about April 15 

 along the coast and near Bangor from April 20 to May 3 and 

 about the ponds in early May after the ice has left. Nearly 

 all leave by late September but exceptionally they may remain 

 until even as late as December 27 as noted by H. H. Johnson. 

 Who has not heard the cheerful rattling "whi-r-r-chi-r-chi-r-r- 

 r-chir-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-" with which the coming of the "Halcyon 

 Days" is announced. 



Who has not seen one of these birds leave its perch along 

 the shore, fly along near the water with quick wing strokes and 

 arise to another perch on an upended log, rock, stub or branch 

 near the shore, announcing its intentions in its rattling way. 

 When a fish is seen it is secured by a quick plunge and brought 

 up crosswise in the bill until it can be turned and swallowed 

 head first. 



They feed on small chubs, minnows, and various small fish 

 of almost every species found in our waters, grasshoppers, also 

 crickets, butterflies and moths which latter two I have seen the 

 birds take while on the wing, chasing them until they were 

 caught. About fish hatcheries they have been reported as a 

 menace to the young fry and this seems very probable. 



The nest is at the end of a burrow excavated in the face of 

 a steep bank usually near the water, but sometimes a long dis- 

 tance from any water. The burrow varies in length from three 

 to eleven feet, extending back horizontally into the bank and 

 at the end widening into a circular chamber. Here the eggs 

 are laid on a bed of sand and occasionally a few fish bones, 



A nest found in a steep bank some way from the water at 

 Hermon, June 1, 1902, was in a burrow six feet from the top 



