THE AMERICAN BARN SWALLOW. 



341 



insect from the sky. Back again, in again, out again, away, an_\\vhere, exery- 

 uhere, witii two-mile a minute speed and effortless grace. 



But it is the sweet contidingness of this dainty Swallow which wins us. 

 With all the face of Nature before him he yet prefers the vicinage of men, and 

 comes out of his hilly fastnesses as soon as we provide him shelter. We all like 

 to be trusted whether we deserve it or not. And if we don't deserve it : well, 

 we will, that's all. 



The Barn Swallow is not a common bird with us as it is east of the 

 Rockies, nor is it evenly distributed thruout our State. Wherever the country 

 is well settled it is likelv, but n(jt certain, to be found; while for the rest it is 



confined to such Imver 

 cliffs. 



altitudes as afford it suitable shelter caves and nesting 



At the head of Lake Chelan in 1S95 I found such a primiti\'e nesting 

 haunt. The shores of the lake near its head are \er\" precipitous, since Castle 

 Mountain rises to a height of over 8,000 feet within a distance of two miles. 

 Along the shore-line in the side of the cliff's, which continue several hundred 



feet below the water, the wa\'es have hollowed out crannies and caves, 

 of these latter, 

 w h i c h penetrates 

 the granite wall to 

 a depth of some 

 twenty feet, I found 

 four or fi\-e Barn 

 Swallows' nests, 

 some containing 

 young, and two, al- 

 tho it was so late in 

 the season (July 9, 

 1895), containing 

 eggs. Other nests 

 were found in 

 neighboring cran- 

 nies outside the 

 cave. A \-isit paid 

 to this same spot on 

 August loth, 1896, 

 discovered one nest 

 still occupied, and 

 this contained four 

 eggs. 



Mr. F. S. Merrill. 

 of Spokane, reports 



In one 



Taken near Spokane. 



Fhoto by F. S. Me'rill. 

 NEST OF BARN SWALLOW. 



