carefully replaced the others, then dragged the stub several rods to an old fence, 

 where I bound it fast with wire to an upright post. The parent bird accepted the 

 proffered amends ; the set was completed, and a handsome brood raised. 



In many localities tree swallows are prompt tenants of bird houses. A pair 

 once built their nest in a sort of tower attic, just inside of a hole which a flicker 

 had pierced in the ceiling of an open belfry of a country church. When in service 

 the mouth of the swinging bell came within two feet of the brooding bird. One 

 would think that the swallows would have been crazed with fright to find them- 

 selves in the midst of such a tumult of sound; but their enterprise fared success- 

 fully, as I can testify, for at the proper time I saw the youngsters ranged in a 

 happy, twittering row along the upper rim of the bell-wheel. 



.\s the seasons go, its arri\al may be pretty safely predicted for the middle 

 of April. 



Several seasons ago, eighteen jjages had been torn from the .\pril cl.iily 

 calendar without the arrival of our favorite swallow. 



A wren box had been mounted in the garden with its doorway no larger 

 than a quarter of a dollar as regularl)- prescribed by all lovers of wrens. 



Nearer the house, the box set apart for the swallows had been swept and 

 garnished. The bluebirds had looked it over as usual, had appeared satisfied with 

 the arrangements and. as usual, had departed to await the arrival of the proper 

 time for the beginning of house furnishing. 



On the morning of the nineteenth, we realized the uncertainties of human 

 planning, for there in the garden was a pair of white-bellied swallows persistently 

 trying to force an entrance into the wren box. 



They were give ample time for discouragement and discovery. If they were 

 aware of the presence of the box intended for them, they ignored it completely. 

 To save the birds from wearing away their plumage in vain efforts to go through 

 a hole much too small, we, the discouraged ones, went to the box, lowered it, 

 whittled out the doorway to the proper size, returned the pole to its place and had 

 the pleasure of seeing the waiting swallows take immediate possession. In their 

 case there was no dallying. They proceeded to hold their claim by living upon it 

 and making improvements leisurely, to be sure, but still they were on hand to 

 drive away the watchful sparrow and later the envious bluebirds. It was a great 

 pleasure to have them about the premises. 



Their twittering was always a joyful note, and we never tired of watching 

 the spotless white and the brilliant metallic greens and blues of their plumage, 

 their graceful movements and their pretty ways. Their dispositions matched 

 their coloring. They were usually mild, attentive, even affectionate : but when the 

 sparrows or the bluebirds alighted on their roof-tree, the cold steel in their 

 natures asserted itself. How they did fight for jiossession of that simple clialk- 

 box summer cottage ! Even to clinch and falling to the ground where, for some 

 seconds they rough-and-tumble like cats and dogs — or boys. But in no case, either 

 that year or other years, when they nested in the garden, were they driven from 

 their holding after they had fairly taken possession and had begun to build. 



567 



