OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 191 



appearance is noticed early in May. It seemingly 

 delights in man's society, and attaches its mud-built 

 nest to the eaves of barns and outhouses. From 

 its first advent to its departure in the latter part 

 of September, it is the same sociable creature. 



Scores of birds have been known to nidificate in 

 dilapidated buildings, constituting well-established 

 and peaceful settlements. But most generally 

 there is a strong aversion to such settlements, as 

 evidenced by the many solitary nests which we 

 have observed in comparatively out-of-the-way 

 situations. This species, however, carries this 

 feeling of sociability to the utmost. 



The most perfect harmony prevails in each set- 

 tlement. In a colony which we observed, a few 

 years since, there were counted at least twenty 

 domiciles arranged in a row underneath the pro- 

 jecting eaves of a barn; and what was truly re- 

 markable, there was not discernible during the 

 three weeks we spent in the neighborhood, a single 

 exhibition of ill-nature or petulency. 



The song of this Swallow which has been com- 

 pared to "an unmusical squeak," rather than a 

 twitter, is produced with a geniality of expression 

 which abundantly compensates for its harshness. 

 When the birds in their hurry would jostle each 

 other, the utmost good feeling prevailed as evi- 

 denced by the same constant noise which they 

 kept up. 



The Cliff Swallow claims our generous indulg- 

 ences,. Like its near relative, the Barn Swallow, 



