Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-13
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| In the early part of last spring had a visit
| from brace of swallows, who commenced to
| build nest under my balcony in the fork of the
bracket which supported it. The floor of the
| balcony being boarded, afforded complete shell
| ter from the rain. As, however, the parlOr win
| dow was Immediately under the nest, the fumes
| from the gas, when the window was opened
| proved too nOXiOus, and they abandoned the
idea of using it, and forthwith removed to the
adjoining bracket, where they finished Il suita-
BILE nest, their mode of construction being the
following: They carefully collected all the
iibrOuS matters they could,-horSe hair, wool,
thread, etc, and rolling these in small pools
made by the water carts in the street, they then
formed them into little balls, about quarter of
an inch in diameter. These they carried to the
bracket under the balcony and fixed them in
the fork thereof. The nest, when completed,
formed an inverted cone about six inches deep,
leaving a space of a little over two inches from
the under floor of the balcony on the south side,
the north side being continued unto The floor of
| the balcony.
All went well until the Young birds were
hatched, when some mischievols youngsters dis
| covered them, and, in an endeayor to obtain
possession OF the nest, broke the wall of it, when
the three little inmates fell into the passage in
| front OF the house, where my man servant dis
covered them; and, as he had been for many
years in Spain, where these birds are protected
with religious care, he put them on a Napkin
| and brought them TO me. | Immediately took
them 10 tue balcony, and placed them in Il nest
formed OF French cotton, and protected, as well
! could, from the cold and possibility of wet
but leaving space large enough for the parent
birds to get to them. then closed the window,
pulled down the blind, and gave directions that
no person should enter the room, lest they
might be disturbed. In little time ! had the
satisfaction to see one of the parent birds re-
turn, and, after much futering about and eau
tons approaches, eventually bring them some
food (insects.)
In an hour after found the old birds busly
engaged in repairing the nest using in this in
stance the material composing the abandoned
nest, which they carefully broke up and carried
in small pieces to the street, rolling the little
pellets in the mud, and then fixing them to the
wall of the injured nest. Notwithstanding all
the diligence they used, they progressed but
slowly, and, after four hours work, the extent
of repairs did not exceed tbree-quarters of an
inch in height by two inches in length The
following morning the work was continued,
and, as the little ones were still alive, and in
much the same condition as had left them, |
concluded they were well looked after by the
parent birds. | left bird seed, oat meal and
water on the balcony, but the old birds did not
touch any. At evening the repairs had Dro-
crossed so far as the gathering in of the lining
and general trimming up of the Jagged edges;
but the reconstruction had advanced but little
the day having been very wet and stormy, so
much so, that considerable portion of the cot
ION was DlOWn away from my nest, and had to
move il into more sheltered spot.
The next day proved fine, and the new wall
was raised more than an inch in height, whilst
the length being so much greater as they APP
preached the top, gave evidence Of continued
industry; the abandoned nest was also consid-
erably reduced in size. Another day of hard
labor reduced the gap, and the opening had
semi circular form, about one.thrd of the dam
age being repaired.
On the morning Of the fourth day after the
calamity, had an early visit TO the little ones.
the sun being bright and warm, whilst the air
was perfectly calm: Approaching the blind
cautiously, peeped through, and discovered
one Of the old birds carefully pushing little
one to the edge of the balcony where the other
| parent bird was huttering and supporting him
self by the bill, Just on a level with the flooring
| IN a rev minutes The operation was completed
| ny the SAFE transfer Of the yOungsier to his
| back; the other parent Immediately Joined and
| by the Time got down 10 the hall door, the
| youhgster was safely lodged in the nest with
It's mouth wide open, anxiously expecting ms
DIeakiast, which was quickly brought by one
| OF the old birds, who made "A rapid flight mo
aud Gown the street, and secured prize insect
/ as a reward. The remaining little ones were
| transferred IN the course of the day But ON
| the following day, my servant brought one of
them TO me dead. suppose il fell from the
nest, as inc wall was very low. The old birds
| continued to repair the nest until the amer
| ture was reduced 10 small semiciicular open-
ing through which lady's hand might PASS.
and for considerable time one of the old birds
remained continually in the nest.
In about three weeks after the restoration of
| the nest, ! observed, one morning, the old birds
very busy about the nest; and having concealed
myself from sight, observed parent bird take
| one Of the young ones on his back, and Nv n
short distance oh--not more than a yard-and
return with his charge to the nest--the other
parent bird being always in close attendance.
and assisting in the interesting ceremony. I'm a
few days more, observed the parent bird take
the young one on his back 10 the street, aud let
il fly of It's own accord, but always accompanied
by both parents, one being in front and the
| other Immediately under the youngstor. In this
| way the little ones were exercised alternately
principally in the early morning, when The street
was comparatively quiet As the season adj
1 vanced, the flights became longer, and both the