Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-01-10
TuE SWALLOW FAMILY.
A Few of the Habits Peculiar TO the s~'H'
winged Chirpers.

| A Few of the Habits Peculiar 60 the s"H
Winged Chirpers.
Most OF the swallows Of Europe and
America belong to the genus hsra''tfa
They are all noted for their speed
When after their food. which generally
consists of insects, they fly after them
with remarkable skill and grace, going
at the rate of a mile minute. They
often drink while flying over stream
at high rate Of speed. and they often
wash themselves by taking a sudden
plunge. They live on the wing more
than any other bird. and. it is claimed,
feed their young in the air. Although
quite graceful when on the wing, they
are directly the opposite when on the
ground, being very awkward and
clumsy. This is caused by their wings
being loug and the legs short. The old
belief that swallows foretell rain by
flying low seems very logical. As their
food consists of insects they would be
liable to fly where insects are most
abundant. Insects fly very low in
damp weather, so it seems that 1t can
not be very unwise to say that they
foretell rain by flying low. 1t has been
estimated that they eat 1000 insects a
day. This is large number and
seems too much, but the claim is made
by those who have made the matter
IL study. Their nests are generally
made Of mud and clay, but through
out the South the people make
them boxes. This is done more for
protection than any thing and the
novelty of the boxes warrants descrip-
ton. The farmers cut long smooth
sapling. often being sixty feet long
He nails cross pieces on these saplings
AS on telegraph pole. To each OF
these cross pieces he will add, say eight
large gourds. which in their wild state
in the South grow to be very large. He
cuts these gourds SO that the birds can
| get in, and before two weeks have past
the gourds are filled with swallows.
They always receive the best attention
and protection. for they not only kill
insects, but they are foe of the hawk.
No hawk ever appears where there are
swallow boxes. for If he did. he would
receive good drubbing. The best
known species of the swallow in the
world is the chimney swallow. 1t is
about six and one-half inches long, its
back blush black with band on the
chest, and the throat ruddy 1t gener-
ally has white spot on the inner web
of each tail feather except the two
innermost. The tail is very long and
forked. As the name indicates. IL fire.
quents chimneys. but it also builds its
nest in old walls, shafts of mines and
among the rafters Of barns and sheds.
The nest is very peculiar, being cup
shaped and made of earth and straw.
lined with feathers. This is attached
to a wall or roof and makes very
strong nest. The parents are very at
tentive to the young and defend them
bravely. They have two broods, but
the second is sometimes left to perish,
not being able to quit the nest in time
of migration. The males are very cour-
ageous and are very sweet singers.
The analogue of this species in Amer
ica is not the one called the chimney
swallow, but what is known as the barn
swallow. 1t is seven inches long and
thirteen inches between the tip of the
wings. 1t inhabits nearly all parts OF
America, appearing in the Southern
States from February to March. A
few reach the New England States by
May. Its nest is made of moist earth
mixed with grasses and is attached to
rafters of barns and buildings. The
nest is about eight inches long and six
inches in diameter. They have been
found weighing as much as two pounds.
Incubation lasts thirteen days, both
sexes assisting, and both occu-
pylng the nest at night until
the young are Matched. This is
the species that so often collects to-
gether in large flocks on telegraph
wires, barns and sheds and they keep
up continual chipping all the time.
They start for the South about the last
OF August or the first of September,
selecting some fair morning. They do
not fly very high, and follow the course
Of rivers. The cliff swallow is about
five inches long and twelve inches in
alar extent. Its crown and back are
steel blue. and are separated by gray
collar. The chin, throat and sides are
OF dark chestnut, but the breast il
white. The cliff swallow is found all
over America, and is often called the
republican swallow. The nest is GEN
orally built under caves and cornices
where it is partly sheltered from the
RAIN. The nest is made of earth and
sand, and is lined with straw and
grass. The sand swallow. which is the
smallest of all, generally builds its nest
IN tubular gullies along the banks of
rivers often Running them back three
feet. The swallow. it must be admit
ted, does more good than harm, aud it
seems that it should be protected
Springfield (O.J Times.
A grcat many good men have
missed the top of the ladder by at.
te>Ipting too many rounds at the first