MANLY HARDY. 



13 



ON THE CHANGE OF HABITS OF SOME MAINE 

 BIRDS. 



BY MANLY HARDY, BREWER, MAINE. 



Within 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 

 a considerable altitude, 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 

 holes in 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 

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