BARN SWALLOW 49 



is as well satisfied with the simple hollow gourd 

 attached to a pole near a negro hut, as with the 

 most ornamental and best arranged Martin-house 

 in the beautiful gardens and parks of rich plant- 

 ers and opulent merchants. Where no nesting- 

 boxes are provided," lie says, " our Martin will 

 not breed, and it hardly ever accepts nesting- 

 boxes attached to trees, preferring locations where 

 the chance is oiven to dart in and out uninter- 

 rupted by any obstacle." 



The struggle between the Martins and Spar- 

 rows is so bitter that one pair of Martins Mr. 

 AVidmann watched, intelligently adopted the 

 strategical plan of never leaving the nest alone, 

 taking turns in going for food, because as he 

 explains, "it is comparatively easy to keep a 

 Sparrow out of a box, but it is impossible for a 

 Martin to dislodge him after he has built a nest." 



Barn Swallow : Chelidon erythrogaster. 



(Plate IV. p. 50.) 

 Geographic Distribution. — North America, north to Green- 

 land and Alaska ; breeds throughout the greater part of its 

 range ; winters as far south as southern Brazil. 



Next to the Martin, the Barn Swallow is the 

 most easily known of his family. He is usually 

 found beating low over a meadow for insects. As 

 he sweeps near us, the rich metallic sheen of his 

 back is well seen ; and as he flies up to a telegraj^h 

 wire, his long forked tail and deep chocolate breast 



