142 SELECTING A SITE. 



stood a short distance from the log-huts, 

 loosely built with poles, and shingled over to 

 keep out the rain, in which our two black- 

 smiths were always at work. Early on a sum- 

 mer morning, towards the end of June, my 

 attention was directed to two barn -swallows 

 perched on the roof of the little shed. They did 

 not exhibit the slightest fear or alarm, although 

 the bellows snorted and wheezed, and sent my- 

 riads of brilliant sparks from the crackling char- 

 coal dancing into the air; whilst the hammer, 

 plied by a lusty arm, rang a merry peal as it 

 smote the ruddy iron. Presently off they flew, 

 and circling round entered the house, and care- 

 fully examined the poles supporting the roof. 

 Perching on them here and there, they felt 

 the surface with their beaks, then twittered in 

 the most excited manner to each other. This 

 system of selecting a site was repeated several 

 times, until the question was evidently settled 

 and decided upon. 



The following day the foundation-stone was 

 laid, a tiny bit of mud being affixed to the beam 

 just over the anvil; and although the hammer 

 constantly passed close to the birds and their 

 building, still they went steadily on with their 

 work. In about three days the nest began to 



