INTRODUCTION 51 



of these species occur in both lists. The Laughing Gull, for 

 example, has undoubtedly increased in the last fifteen years, 

 but is still much less common than one hundred years ago. 

 The list follows: 



Glaucous Gull American Egret 



Iceland Gull Little Blue Heron 



Black-backed Gull Dowitcher 



Herring Gull Knot 



Laughing Gull Pectoral Sandpiper 



Common Tern Piping Plover 



Least Tern Evening Grosbeak 



Baldpate Tennessee Warbler 



Green-winged Teal Cape May Warbler 



Pintail Bay-breasted Warbler 



It is perhaps human nature to take for granted that which 

 one has, and to sigh for what one has not. This is particularly 

 true of the bird-student who is often not at all interested in 

 the many common species, but is ever striving to see the rarer 

 ones, with which he is not acquainted. If this attitude be 

 unduly indulged, his hobby colors his whole mental outlook. 

 Civilization itself and its progress becomes an evil, which he 

 resents with pathetic futility. Thinking of what he has lost 

 or might have had, he misses the wealth of variety with which 

 Nature has endowed this region. Man and his works were 

 suddenly turned loose in a peaceful wilderness. How sudden 

 and terrible a catastrophe to the native birds! Over a suffi- 

 ciently long period, the survival of any species depends upon 

 its adaptability to a changing environment, but how acid the 

 test which man has furnished in the New World. There is no 

 doubt that some could not endure this test ; they have utterly 

 disappeared from this region. Many others are retreating as a 

 great city sends out ever-stretching tentacles into the rural 

 districts. No bird can live on asphalt and concrete. But if 

 city blocks are contrasted with primeval forest, most of this 

 area may be regarded as a half-way compromise. This com- 

 promise the great majority of our birds have accepted. While 



