NORTHERN CLIFF SWALLOW 473 



The details of mud gathering and nest building are described by 

 Audubon (1831): 



About day-break they flew down to the shore of the river, one hundred yards 

 distant, for the muddy sand of which their nests were constructed, and worked 

 with great assiduity, until near the middle of the day, as if aware that the 

 heat of the sun was necessary to dry and harden their moist tenements. They 

 then ceased from labour for a few hours, amused themselves by performing 

 aerial evolutions, courted and caressed their mates with nuuh affection, and 

 snapped at flies and other insects on the wing. They often examined their nests 

 to see if they were sufl5ciently dry, and as soon as they appeared to have acquired 

 the requisite firmness, they renewed their labours. Until the females began to 

 sit, they all roosted in the hollow limbs of the Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) 

 growing on the bank of the Licking River, but when incubation commenced, the 

 males alone resorted to the trees. A second party arrived, and were so hard 

 pressed for time, that they betook themselves to the holes in the wall, where 

 bricks had been left out for the scaffolding. These they fitted with projecting 

 necks, similar to those of the complete nests of the others. 



Brown (1910) describes briefly but well the mud-gathering habits 

 of cliff swallows he observed at Grand Pre, Nova Scotia : 



In one place was a trench dug some five feet deep, and with a most inviting 

 bed of soft sticky clay at the bottom. The Swallows were making the most 

 of the opening of such a mine, and, through the entire forenoon that I observed 

 them, they flocked in numbers and worked most conscientiously. * * * They 

 came in eager succession, fluttering down, feet dropped, ready to settle lightly 

 on the soft mud. The moment the feet touched ground, the body and tail 

 were well up, so as not to soil those sleek feathers, and the wings extended 

 straight over the back, continually fluttering to keep the feet from sinking or 

 sticking. Mouthfuls of clay were quickly gathered, the wings continually shak- 

 ing, and soon the Swallow was off. Every one was busy, mostly mindful only 

 of Ms own affairs but now and then a tiff occurred, where two wanted the 

 same spot. Every newcomer called softly, and those flying above and across 

 were musically happy. 



Knowlton (1881) made some interesting observations on cliff 

 swallows at Brandon, Vt., in which it is clear that in the life of the 

 swallows incidents occur that parallel those in a human society. 

 He says : 



One day, while watching them, I noticed one bird remained in her half- 

 finished nest, and did not appear to be much engaged. Soon a neighbor, owning 

 a nest a few feet away, arrived with a fresh pellet of clay and, adjusting it in 

 a satisfactory manner, flew away for more. No sooner was she out of siglit than 

 the quiet bird repaired to the neighbor's nest, appropriated the fresh clay and 

 moulded it into her own nest ! When the plundered bird returned, no notice 

 was taken of the theft, which was repeated as soon as she was again out of 

 sight. I saw these movements repeated numerous times, but was called away, 

 and when I again returned both nests were completed. 



In the same place a nest remained undisturbed, and was occupied by probably 

 the same pair of birds for several seasons. This spring they returned to the 

 old nest, and all appeared prosperous, until one day I noticed a number of 

 Swallows engaged in walling up the entrance of this old nest. This, and the 

 outline of a new nest over the old, was soon completed. I then broke open the 



