S2 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



structure falls, destroying eggs, fledglings and 

 all, and the poor birds seem quite distracted. But 

 in a few days they go bravely about the work 

 of repair and the season's labors go on as though 

 no untoward accident had befallen them. 



It is a curious sight when the tenement is 

 completed to see the mistress of each apartment 

 sitting in the circular entrance at evening 

 chattering and gossiping, but ever alert to drive 

 away any who presume to invade the privacy of 

 her home. The query is often raised, are the 

 houses numbered? How else could they tell 

 their own.^ When the first settlers came to 

 America, these birds built on cliffs and were 

 known as Cliff Swallows. In the West they still 

 follow this habit. 



The notes of the Eave Swallow, little more 

 than wheezy squeaks, are less attractive than 

 those of the Barn Swallow. They strongly 

 resemble their cousins in dress, but the tail is 

 less deeply forked. They are easily told by the 

 brownish ring about the neck and by the cres- 

 cent-shaped frontlet "shining like a new moon." 

 These Swallows are slightly shorter than Barn 

 Swallows. They nest from New Jersey as far 

 north as Labrador, and in the interior even to 

 the Arctic Ocean, wintering in the tropics. We 

 may expect to see them around New York City 

 late in April. 



Tree Swallow. You may also have this Swal- 

 low for a dooryard companion in summer, 

 if you will offer him a cozy tenement in the 

 shape of an attractive bird box. They are less 

 gregarious than other members of this family, 



