50 



BARN SWALLOW 



Fig. 20. 



Weak foot 



of Barn 



Swallow. 



identify him beyond question. Like the Swift 

 (see Fig. 7, p. 25) and Hummingbird, the Swal- 

 lows live in air and feed when flying, and so have 

 undeveloped perching feet (compare Figs. 20, 21), 

 unfitted for walking ; nevertheless they 

 sometimes condescend to visit the earth 

 for nesting materials and the lime 

 which they need to harden their egg- 

 shells. Their eggs, like those of the 

 Eave Swallow, are white, heavily spot- 

 ted with brown. 



If you watch a row of Swallows 

 perched on a telegraph wire, you will 

 hear the bright, happy warble which 

 adds so much to their attractiveness. 

 In addition to this twittering song, 

 their call note is said to be a " soft 

 and affectionate loitt, witt, and the cry 

 given in time of danger a harsh trrn-^ trrrr.''' 



The homely old proverb, " One Swallow does 

 not make a summer," shows how intimately these 

 birds are associated with the close of winter. As 

 Mr. Nehrling puts it, in his enthusiastic way : 

 " We welcome their first appearance with de- 

 light, as the faithful harbingers of flowery spring 

 and ruddy summer ; and when, after a long 

 frost-bound and boisterous wdnter, w^e hear it an- 

 nounced that ' the Swallows have come,' what a 

 train of charming ideas are associated with the 

 simple tidings !" 



Fig. 21. 

 Strong foot 

 of Song- 

 Sparrow. 



