BARN SWALLOW 51 



But as it is a pleasure to have the birds come 

 back in spring, it is always with a feeling of re- 

 gret that we see them gather for their southward 

 flight in fall ; for the silence of the deserted barns 

 and telegrapli wires suggests the coming winter. 



Before beginning their southward journey, the 

 Swallows gather in large flocks. Sometimes they 

 can be followed from farm to farm. They go 

 so slowly and stop so often on the way that the 

 young birds gradually get used to following the 

 old ones. Then they make prolonged stops at 

 definite roosts, sometimes in trees and sometimes 

 in marshes along river banks. It is a most inter- 

 estino' sio-ht to watch them then. In an article in 

 ' The Auk,' Mrs. Bates gives a graphic account 

 of a roost in the willows along the Kennebec 

 River, in Maine, at which the movements of the 

 birds are most remarkable. At sunset, she says, 

 they begin ])ouring in, and " at intervals clouds of 

 Swallows will evolve something like order out of 

 their numbers and perform e?i masse . . . fantastic 

 curves, spirals, counter-marches, snake-like twists 

 and turns, with the sky for a background." ^ 



Mr. Chamberlain once happened on a curious 

 meeting-place of the Swallows. A flock several 

 thousand strong actuallv flew down the chimney 

 of a deserted house and settled themselves for the 

 night on the floors of the rooms, like so many 

 wayfaring tramps.^ 



1 The Auk, vol. xii. Xo. i. p. 48. 



2 Some Canadian Birds, p. 5. 



