842 Home Nature-Study Course. 



(12). At what time do the bank swallows leave us for the southern 

 migration ? 



Facts for the teacher. — The Bank Swallows make burrows in the perpendicular 

 banks of creeks or in the cuts of railroads, or even in sand pits. They require a 

 soil sufficiently soft to be tunnelled with the weak feet and yet not so loose as to 

 cave in upon the nest. The tunnel may extend from one to four feet horizontally 

 in the bank with just enough diameter to admit the body of the rather small bird. 

 The nest is situated at the extreme end of the tunnel and lined with soft feathers 

 and grasses. Usually many tunnels occur near each other. The Bank Swallow 

 is grayish above with throat and breast white and a broad brownish band across 

 the breast; the tail is slightly forked. The Rough Winged Swallow, which is 

 similar in habits to the Bank Swallow, may be distinguished from it by its gray 

 breast which has no dark band, while the Tree Swallow has a white breast with 

 no band. The Bank Swallows arrive in late April and leave in early September. 



Lesson L. 



the tree swallow. 



Purpose. — To draw the attention of the pupils to this bird and to lead 

 them to give it protection from the English sparrow and thus encourage 

 it to colonize near farm houses. 



Observations: 



(i). Where does the tree swallow make its nest? 



(2). How does its nest differ from that of the barn, the eave and the 

 bank swallow? 



(3). When does it begin to build? 



(4). How can we encourage the tree swallow to build near our houses? 



(5). Why is the tree swallow a much more desirable bird to have near 

 the house than the English sparrow? 



(6). Describe the peculiar migratory habits of the tree swallow? 



(7). How can you distinguish the tree swallow from the barn, the 

 eave and the bank swallow? 



Facts for the teacher. — The Tree Swallow is a graceful little bird that builds in 

 holes in trees, but readily accepts a box if it is provided. These birds begin to 

 build soon after they come North in late April. AVe can encourage the Tree 

 Swallows to live near our houses by building houses for them and driving away the 

 English sparrows. The Tree Swallows Hve upon many insects which annoy us 

 and destroy our gardens and damage our orchards and are, therefore, much more 

 desirable neighbors than the English sparrows. The Tree Swallows congregate 

 in great numbers for the southern migration very early in the season, often in 

 early August. They are likely to congregate in marshes, as are also the other 

 swallows. In color the Tree Swallow has a blue green metallic back and head, a 



