A BIRD'S YEAR 



land it was long bclic\'cd that Swallows hiber- 

 nate in the mud as do frogs. Even so keen an 

 observer as Gilbert White held to this belief, and 

 probably this strange notion has not yet been 

 wholly eradicated from the minds of men. 

 The old Penobscot Indian who sometimes acts 

 in the capacity of guide on my excursions into 

 the north woods assures me that his tribe be- 

 lieve that all the "little chip birds" make the 

 long migrating journey by clinging to the backs 

 of the larger birds, strong fliers as Loons, Geese, 

 Ducks, Herons, etc., stealing a ride as it were. 

 A lady recently asked me if it were true, as her 

 pastor had explained, that Swallows carry food 

 under their wings for use during the migration. 

 While one may understand how these fantastic 

 beliefs may have been held by ignorant persons 

 a century or more ago and by illiterate Indians, 

 it is not easy to understand how such an idea as 

 that held by the preacher can find lodgment in 

 the mentality of average intelligence and of 

 liberal education. 



Very soon after arriving in the region selected 

 for the summer home, usually as soon as the 

 stains of travel have been removed and tired 

 bodies rested, attention is turned to the very 

 important matter of selecting a mate. The 

 males then are clad in their gayest suits, and 

 their choicest songs are ready to woo the ear of 

 the coy female. A few varieties are said to keep 

 the same mate year after year, but this seems 

 rather unlikely. However, the choice is soon 

 made, an agreement reached, and the attention 

 of the pair is turned to the selection of a suitable 



