MANLY HARDY. 113 
ON THE CHANGE OF HABITS OF SOME MAINE 
BIRDS. 
BY MANLY HARDY, BREWER, MAINE. 
Wiruin the last fifty years many kinds of birds, in Maine, 
have not only changed their places of nesting, but in some 
cases have also changed their style of building. One species, 
at least, has abandoned several kinds of food which used to 
form a part of its usual diet. These changes have been pro- 
duced by various causes, among which the following are 
some of the principal : Change of place of nesting has been 
caused partly for greater ease in securing food, and partly to 
avoid enemies. Change in the form of nests has followed 
change of place, from the necessity incident to difference of 
surroundings. Change of food has been due to persecution 
by man, so that the usual food cannot be obtained except at 
too great risk. The Juncos, which usually choose to nest at 
aconsiderablealtitude, to obtain the coolness they enjoy, have 
found that they can obtain the desired temperature in ice- 
houses, and their nests may often be found there. Night- 
hawks, which formerly laid eggs on the ground or upon rocks, 
now avail themselves of flat, graveled roofs of buildings in 
the vicinity of cities, while their country relatives remain 
unchanged in habits. Golden-wings formerly nested only in 
holes in trees; but as the trees disappear they often make 
holesin the finish under the eaves of buildings. Robins, 
whose nests formerly were mostly found in trees, and which 
still build in them in sparsely-settled regions, in the vicinity 
of towns build largely under the returns of houses, in the 
