388 BULLETIN 179, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



in 1931 from 4 pairs to 60 pairs. In 1932, with over four hundred 

 boxes available in favorable sites, there were 113 pairs of breeding 

 birds." Austin and Low state (1932) : "They had a choice of boxes 

 in open fields, in partial cover, on the salt marsh, and in dense woods. 

 Tliey showed a preference for those in the open fields, most of which 

 were occupied, and used none of the ones that were sheltered by 

 vegetation." 



Forced, perhaps, by a scarcity of breeding sites, tree swallows have 

 been found nesting in several unusual places. For example, Dr. 

 Dickey (MS.) reports that they build their nests in the "eaves and 

 cracks of log shelters erected by campers and foresters in lumber 

 camps in Ontario and in old excavations of woodpeckers, notably those 

 of the yellow-bellied sapsucker and arctic woodpecker." Milton S. 

 Ray (1903) found a nest "in a hole of a pile of an old wharf, over the 

 water." Henry Mousley (1916) says: "In my experience the nesting 

 site here [Hatley, Quebec] is generally some small cavity in the 

 eaves or cornices of farm buildings." Hartley H. T. Jackson (1923) 

 says : "A nest containing five eggs was found in a fence post by the 

 roadside, June 7, the entrance to the cavity being in the top of the 

 post." John Treadwell Nichols (1920) speaks of a nest in an aban- 

 doned hydrant, the opening to the nest only a couple of feet from the 

 ground. 



The nest of the tree swallow consists of an accumulation of dry 

 grass and straw, hollowed out, and lined with feathers. The birds 

 show a marked preference for white feathers and often arrange 

 them so that the tips curl upward over the eggs. 



Oliver L. Austin, Jr., and Seth H. Low (1932), speaking of nests 

 on Cape Cod, say: 



The time occupied by the nest-building varied individually from a few days 

 to two vpeeks. The peak of these activities occurred during the last week in April 

 and the first week in May. 



In general the foundation and bulk of the nests were of upland or marsh 

 grasses, pine-needles, or a combination of these materials woven together. A 

 hollow was formed in this foundation, sometimes in the center, but as often in 

 one side or corner, and profusely lined witli gray and white feathers packed 

 in tightly with the quills buried in the grass or pointing away from the central 

 hollow. In forty-six boxes were found over 3,300 feathers, ninety-nine per cent 

 of which were those of the Herring Gull, though a few feathers of domestic 

 fowl, Black Duck, Scaup Duck, Wood Duck, Canada Goose, Great Horned Owl, 

 and Red-tailed Hawk vv-ere mixed in with them. There was an average of 72 

 feathers to a nest, but over a hundred were found in each of ten boxes ; one 

 contained 132, one 134, and another a maximum of 147. 



A. Dawes DuBois (MS.) describes a nest "profusely lined with soft, 

 pure white chicken feathers — a beautiful nest. After three eggs had 

 been laid, I saw the male bird catch a large downy white feather that 

 was floating on the breeze and carry it into the box." Thomas D. 



