THE TREE SWALLOW. 343 



Bringing utif tlie brood is an event which nia}- well arrest the attention of 

 the human household. There is much stir of excitement about the barn. The 

 anxious parents rush to and fro shouting tisic, tisic, now in encouragement, 

 now in caution, while baljy number one launches for the nearest beam. The 

 pace is set, and babies number two to four f(_)llow both" after, now lighting" 

 safely, now landing in the hay-mow, or compromising on a plow-handle. Up- 

 on the last-named the agonized parents urge another effort, for Tabb\- may 

 appear at any moment. He tries, therefore, for old Nellie's back, to the mild 

 astonishment of that placid tnare, who presently shakes him off. Numljer 

 five tumbles outright and requires to be replaced by hand, if you will be so 

 kind. And so the tragi-comed}' wears on, duplicating human years in half as 

 many days, luitil at last we see our Swallows among their twittering fellows 

 strung like notes of music on the far-flung staff of Western Union. 



H birds really mean anything more to us than so many Japanese kites 

 tlM\\n without strings, we may stu'ely join with Dr. Brewer in his whole-souled 

 a]»preciation of these friendl}- Swallows: "Innocent and blameless in their 

 lives, there is no evil blended with the manv benefits they confer on man. 

 They are his ever constant benefactor and friend, and are never known even 

 indirectl}' to do an injury. Fur their daily food and for that of their off- 

 spring, they destroy the insects that annoy his cattle, injure his fruit trees, 

 sting his fruit, or molest his person. Social, affectionate and kind in their 

 intercourse with each other: faithful and dev<:)ted in the discbarge of their 

 conjugal and parental duties: exemplary, watchful, and tender alike to their 

 own family and to all their race : sympathizing and benevolent when their 

 fellows are in any trouble, — these lovel\' and beautiful birds are bright ex- 

 amples to all, in their blameless and useful lives." 



No. 131. 



TREE SWALLOW. 



A. O. U. No, 614. Iridoprocne bicolor (VieilL). 



Synonym. — White-belliEd Sw.allow. 



Description. — Adult male: Above, lustrous steel-blue or steel-green; below, 

 pure white ; lores black ; wings and tail black, showing some bluish or greenish 

 luster; tail slightly forked. Female: Similar to male, but duller. Ininiatiire: 

 Upper parts mouse-gray instead of metallic ; below whitish. Length about 6.00 

 (152.4) ; wing 4.57 (116.1) ; tail 2.19 (55.6) ; bill from nostril .25 (6.4). 



Recognition Marks. — Aerial habits; steel-blue or greenish above; pure white 

 below ; a little larger than the next species. 



Nesting. — Nest: in holes in trees or, latterly, in bird houses, plentifully lined 



