The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-08-30
SWALLOWS.

the eastern states have been gathering in flocks, in preparation for their annu- al journey to the south.
 Almost daily we have seen them fit ting over the meadows, or skimming the ponds, in vast numbers, while hum dreds of their fellows sat in rows upon the telegraph wires, twittering amica- ply, and preening the long wings which soon will bear them to their winter homes. What wonderful little flying machines they are, and how ridiculous ly clumsy in comparison are the air. ships of men!
 If we merely glance at these long rows, we get the impression that they are composed of swallows; and right we shall be, as far as we go. But if we look more closely, we shall see that there are several kinds of swallows sit ting together-swallows which differ in form, plumage and habits. First of all, perhaps, we shall notice a very large and handsome swallow, with glossy, blue-black plumage, the wings and tail somewhat duller than the rest. This is the purple martin, splendid bird, un- fortunately much less common here than the is in the south. Perhaps he would be more numerous In the north and east if more people would take the trouble to provide suitable nesting sites for him. He Is a sociable fellow, and prefers to build near human habita- tions, in boxes or gourds erected on the tops of barns, or tall polls set into the ground. A colony of purple martins is an interesting addition to any home, for, besides beauty of plumage and grace of motion, the birds have deli cious, yoddling song which they utter while sailing through the air.
 The purple martin is plucky bird, and farmers who take pains to have him nest on the premises are little troubled with hawks or crows, for the fast-fying swallow will attack and drive off all such birds, including the bald eagle, whenever his majesty hap pens to put in an appearance.
 During the period of incubation, the male frequently visits the female and shows her many little attentions. He often sits on the outside of the nesting box, preening his feathers, now and then going to the door of his mates apartment as though to inquire how she is getting along. Sometimes he will go inside and stay in the nest with her for several minutes, meanwhile uttering soft and doubtless affectionate notes.
 Sitting next to the martin, on the same wire, perhaps, we shall see the barn-swallow, which we may know at once by his deeply forked tail and his reddish throat and breast. This is probably the best known of all our swallows, and the fastest flyer of this famous family. He requires no bird
 box erected for him; if the barn door or window is left open, he will build his nest of mud and hay and feathers against beam or rafter, or, if he can not get into the building, he will make his home under the caves. In May we may see him on the muddy shores of ponds or rivers, gathering little pellets of mud, with which he swiftly flies to the farm-yard, through a broken win dow pane, perhaps, into the black inte-
 rior of the barn, and even from the darkness comes his cheerful cry of kitty, Kitty" to assure us of his hap
 piness. With the purple martin, he will
 now soon be on his way to South Afri ca.
 On the same wire with the barn swal-
 low and the martin, and probably in
 much greater numbers, we may see the tree-swallow. or wfite-bellied swallow, which, as his last name indicates, is pure white underneath. His upper parts are of metallic blue or green.
 This swallow has not yet wholly re- nounced the nesting habits of his ances- tors, and often nests in holes in trees; but when bird-boxes are erected for him, he sometimes gives them a trial, and. if he finds that they answer his
 purpose, no doubt he will adopt them altogether. During the fall migration the tree swallows are found in vast numbers in the marshes, where they
 roost in the reeds every night. It has
 been observed that their flight in the evening is comparatively low, the aver age height being thirty or forty feet, while in the morning their flight is much higher, and more direct. They are very fond of bayberries, and often collect them in large numbers to feed on them.
 Another member of the family we
 may see upon the telegraph wires is l the cliff swallow, whom we may identi- fly readily by his upper tail coverts | which form pale rufous patch. In the spring he may be seen with the barn swallow, gathering pellets of mud on -~ Continued on Fifth Page)