SWALLOW ROOSTS AND MIGRATION 



I shook a tree and a frightened mass of swal- 

 lows flew out with whirring wings. The dis- 

 turbance, however, was local and soon quieted 

 when I had beaten a hasty retreat. 



The morning flight from this roost was cer- 

 tainly an interesting performance. I slept 

 that night on the top of a pointed dune a short 

 distance to the west of the swallows. About 

 four o'clock I heard a few swallows going 

 over, and ten minutes later a large number 

 of these birds sprang suddenly into the clear, 

 cool morning air that w^as already faintly 

 glowing with the light of the coming sun. 

 Hither and yon they flew in the exuberance 

 of their joy of living, describing irregular 

 curves and partial circles, fluttering their 

 wings rapidly and bursting out into song 

 which proclaimed their identity. The song 

 was that of the barn swallow, and the com- 

 bined effect of the great multitude of singers 

 was delightful in the extreme. All appeared 

 to be barn swallows, although in the imperfect 

 light identification by sight was difficult. In 

 a few minutes the joyful birds dispersed. 

 Many, still singing, flew over my sandy couch 

 high in the air towards the west, and soon 

 all were gone. The song of the barn swallow 



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