THE OSPREY. 7 



not one pair of these birds, to my knowledge, breeds there. I have just men- 

 tioned the "Bank Swallows" of these little islands. I have never elsewhere 

 seen these birds nesting under just such conditions. Usually the burrow is in 

 a sand cliff. There were no cliffs or banks on these islands which were solid 

 ledges overlaid with a rather thin layer of turf; around the edges the turf 

 was often broken or weathered away, leaving the soil exj)osed. In these ex- 

 posed places the Swallows dug shallow holes, lining the inner end with a few 

 feathers in which they laid their eggs. Occasionally the matted roots of the 

 beach-pea and other plants formed an overhanging shelf, the soft dirt having 

 been worn away. Under these shelves the Sand Pipers scratched together a 

 few leaves and sprigs of dead grass for a nest and laid their eggs, whose small 

 ends always pointed toward the center. 



At this time, also, there was a rookery of "Quawks" or Night- herons on 

 Eagle Island. Then I have seen as many as ten nests in one tree, and the un- 

 derbrush was white-washed with their drippings. In these nests, at one time, 

 were young, ranging all the way from well incubated embryos in the egg to 

 nearly grown birds almost ready to fly. 



This, 1901, I did not see a living bird on the island and there were no 

 signs of their having been there in recent years. About 1875 a visit was made 

 to Brown Cow Ledge near Jewells Island. Tern eggs were so thick on parts 

 of the rock that in stepping about it was with difficulty one could avoid crush- 

 ing some of them. As early as 1880 not a pair could be found breeding 

 there. 



In 1884 I visited the Outer Green Islands. Terns were breeding there in 

 large numbers, and also a few Petrels. I stopped at these islands during the 

 usual breeding season, in 1901, and none of either bird was seen there. The 

 Tern, once so common throughout the bay during the summer, seem to have 

 almost completely disappeared. 



In 1900, I spent the greater part of June, July and August on Casco 

 Bay and recall seeing during that time but two Terns, and one of those had 

 been shot by a sportsman (?) who said it was a Plover. 



Twenty years ago, in any early evening, on the muddy shores of the es- 

 tuaries of upper Casco Bay, the Great Blue Heron could be seen in long lines 

 along the edge of the water. In 1900 and 1901 I saw but one. I remember 

 that once two schooners were in Harraseckett River, at Freeport, for several 

 days, and the crews engaged in shooting these birds and salting them down in 

 barrels; I thought then, for food, but believe now that they were used for fish 

 bait. 



In those days, too, upland Plovers were numerous, breeding in the fields 

 back from the shore. To-day, in the fields once frequented by them, occa- 

 sionally a pair may breed. Last August I visited some old fields where I used 



