New-York tribune., 1901-08-04

their old garments and putting the new. but
they are also giving the final touches TO the edu-
cation OF the young, and all the time preparing for
the great event of the season-mlgration.
Yes. the birds mouting, and though there
will be many hot days in this month. and even in
September. in spite OF the cool promises of it's
name. that which makes summer TO the bird lover
is passing away. Strange indeed, ii seems now
10 find the woods quiet. and stranger still
the garrulous warbler tribes stealing about in
silence; the gay little redstart trying TO hide his
black and gold. and his mate-an summer on dress
parade-now meek and subdued; the ever merry
yellow warbler in canary suit slipping behind
leaf II ashamed of himself, and the trig parula
looking like an animated bundle OF rags. his
phatic Zee. zee'si hushed for the season, and
one and all accompanied by nondescript young
sters. not yet robed in the family uniform and
puzzling 10 classify.
The swallows too. among our summer
friends. Having further for our structures
for their nurseries they have abandoned us-gone
10 the marshes probably. 20 join thousands of their
kind and resume their old community life-perhaps
to introduce the little folk of the season 10 the
flock and form themselves into compact and
united body before their travels begin From the
little we see of their life during the weeks barn
swallows are with US IT is natural 10 think OF them
as little more than mere flying machines The
thin winged swallows skating on the air. as Lowell
pictures them Bat they really birds ~ a good
deal OF individuality. one now and then catches
gIlnpses OF character which surprise one. eSpe-
ciaIly when taken their own ground. where they
at home.
PRETTY WAYS OF BARN SWALLOWS
cone year party OF barn swallows adopted a
certain piazza roof as resting and lounging place
during the early part os the day those hours
which birds have learned by long eNOei eiieL'e 70 20
consider their own. Ny window happened 20 open
directly upon this rendezvous, and their noise ana
chatter aroused my curiosity 10 see lAt & H taSI %
Up TO get sight of them, for sentinel was always
PIste '43 in confson @ @ In another place noted
tho pretty family feeling between q palr OF s~al-
m .'Ii,y I,rfs ~ f hem there hovrrin; before them
ana IadYiin,sterns the mouthfu In the daintiest
way Sometimes the elders would sit down by
forgot that baby swallows must take their reg
would circle around. uttering peculiar criss, WhtCr @
seemed To inspire or excite the yoHrYsleFs;- 5or
they al once took wing and tried To follow Ihey
flew we'll but soon tired and dropped 20 tne 'TrSs M
again but far apart from each other Then X W3S
each other. running or creeping along in their
pretty way till they We're nestled side by side
..This summer had further insight into The barn
discipline For some reason a pair Of these birds
began to frequent the beam supPorting The rS r93t
OF piazza where spent hours every day. ShoriIy
the male started TO build a house on the beam lie
had been doing this for some time without at,
S % az ans him as he Was returning with mouth
@ She aHT mTT rsued % him round and round the lawn
But he held to his precious morsel and returned
at last place IT in safety and work 1t In with
the rest This happened several times before the
female recognized that greater vigilance was de-
manded and began flying TO the piazza often 10
see IL he was there Finally she took to sitting
the beam to prevent his coming at all 1t was
perfectly evident that she determined to put
an end TO his building in that place. Whether she
preferred to set up housekeeping In the barn.
where tho rest OF the little flock were building
that she could have some society. she did not
make clear to me. Whatever the reason, the brave
little bird resolved to have her own way-and
she did. is the mothers prerogattve in the bird
world She flew AT him every time he came. till
she finally discouraged him. He began two nests,
but did not get far with either, and at last they
came no more They doubtless settled in the barn.
and made part of the lively party crclng over the
lawn, and looking all alike 10 me-.