ORNITHOLOGY 





All communications for this department should be sent to the Department 

 Editor, Mr. Harry G. Higbee, 13 Austin Street, Hyde Park, Massachusetts. 

 Items, Articles and photographs in this department not otherwise credited 

 are by this Department Editor. 



The Swallows — How to Secure Them 

 for Friends and Neighbors. 



BY THE REVEREND MANLY B. T0WNSEND, 

 NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



Some one has said, "In time of peace 

 prepare for war." It is, therefore, 

 timely for us now to begin our plans 

 to attract the birds and induce them to 

 make their homes with us next sum- 

 mer. If we live in the country it will 

 be an easy matter to obtain plenty of 

 bird tenants. If our homes are in the 

 city, this will not be so easy, though 

 by no means impossible, as many have 

 proved by experience. 



Among the most interesting and use- 

 ful birds that man has induced to as- 

 sociate with him are the swallows. 

 Four 'species in New England have con- 



fided themselves to his company — the 

 tree, the barn and the cliff swallows 

 and the purple martin. 



The tree swallow nests in hollow 

 places, usually under natural circum- 

 stances in a hole in a tree ; but it is 

 easy to induce this sleek, trim creature 

 with the steel blue coat and pure white 

 waistcoat to inhabit a box, if it is con- 

 veniently placed for him. In fact your 

 bird box is more likely to be rented 

 by the tree swallows than by any other 

 tenants except the bluebirds. 



The purple martins, unlike the tree 

 swallows which nest in solitary pairs, 

 are extremely gregarious. For them 

 should be provided a colony house con- 

 sisting of many rooms. Just before 

 their arrival in the spring, the Fnglish 



OCCUPIED PURPLE MARTIN HOUSES ON POLES IN OJIBWAY INDIAN SUMMER CAMP ON 



LITTLE BOY RIVER, MINNESOTA. 

 Photograph by Walter Bennett. 



