The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-10-13
PLUcKv SWALLOWS.
Hoe They Defend Themselves Agatnss
the SporfOws.


There was hourishing family of
young barn-svallovs just Matched out
in a stanch mud-nest that clings to the
inside ledge of q jutting post on a wide
balcony of q certain pretty Long Island
house-quite an ordinary little swal-
lows nest and very commonplace nun.
prv birtllines in it, but the family that
lives in the Long Island house regard
the parent birds as the Quickest pair
of housekeepers they ever knew. For
three seasons in succession the swal-
lows a handsome, lively pair of birds,
have come back to bill and COO ana
hatch their little brood in a mud-nest
stuck to q pillar at the west end of the
balcony.
Some warm spring day they come
back, apparently just from a long trip
in the south, and, perching on the
nests edge, in loud, cheerful ch'rps
discuss the necessary renovatlons and
| improvements. They then set prompt
| ly to work, toss out all the old lining
of the year before. and down along the
ponds edge or in the public highway
| are seen industriously getting mud for
| needed repairs. The work goes on for
a week usually before Mrs. Swallow
begins to lay her eggs, and this year
the swallow family. came back to the
| old nest in due season aud began to
work on it. From their own pretty
downy coats they pulled feathers for
lining, and one egg was laid, when q
little gray chipping sparrow undertook
to turn these honest folk out of their
old home. She deliberately tossed the
new laid egg and down lining out and
began to lay in such twigs as she
Thought best.
The swallows seemed indignant and
prief-stricken. but satisfied themselves
bv giving the sparrow Il sound scold'
ing, turning out her twigs and begin
ming to refine the nest. Another egg
was laid, and again in their absence
the sparrow repeated her cruel trick
This time the swallows punished the
DESTROYER of their home severely. They
met her on the gravel path by the
, balcony steps and Mr.. Swallow strucl
her such a blow with his stout. shor
bill that she iuttered, reeled, and fel
) over on the gravel as though dead
Then the swallows disappeared for
, i weet.. ~ the end of that time the.
, came back, selected a ledge IF Pilla
. on the east end of the baico''
and began to build new home
= Knowing they were full two weeks be
hind all the other birds, they WORKED
. like beavers until in the space of 4ou
=. days 3. --- nest, bigger and stronge
| ,,rn T., q. .li-! yfC built and lined
; ia.t L,..< Sr,v&.lin,. had 1>@run to Ia
. ~;;-:i, -
From. lux 10y ..rt h.. "-",>t ~,
:, 80: 5nco aoe - :i'' ~..,. - = '."N'. -
vi .AlEJ fS: itS'NN '.. - - - .-.' -
sparrow, who az MAJ, nr.s. 3. NOT :
: destroy it, but was r."v""t: y
member of the family who o,.- ia
Long Island house. and who determine
p to protect the patient builders. A
though few days late. Mrs. Swallo'
= Matched out as fine a family of youn
:, | ones as one would care to see an
| was very little behind her neighbors i
p getting her babies on the wing Ever
nj ght her good husba nd spent perche
y on a hook driven into one of the ba
4 cony beams, from which Il Ca nary's ca
- hung, and in July the swallows disal
n peared.
Not until the season arrives for m
, grating to- the south do the Long 1
- land family see their bird-neighbol
- again. Some day in the latter part I
n, September the swallows come back S
h. on the nests edge, appa rently talk ov<
~ plans for the next spring, see to 1T tn;
=, the nest is in good order, and then, 7
doubt, begin their long flight and $
iourn to warmer climeS.
~ ssssAAAA oElNG