8o Bird -Lore 



struggle backward from beneath the brooder, up to the edge of the 

 nest and deposit over it that which, remaining within, would have 

 made their home uninhabitable. 



From this time forth a third Swift was seen to enter into the care 

 of the nestlings, taking its turn at brooding and feeding. Was this 

 a nurse-maid employed to relieve the overburdened mother, or a kind 

 and helpful friend or neighbor, or the younger and less care-taking 

 of two wives ? Who can tell ? 



It was not until the sixth day after hatching that I knew to a 

 certainty how many young birds there were. Then, to my surprise, I 

 found there were five. They had grown to be very clamorous for 

 food. Two, at most three (later but one), were served at one feed- 

 ing, and the process w^as after this manner: "Swiftie" would drop 

 into the chimney and alight below the nest, her throat bulging with 

 the fullness of captured insects. ^The little ones that were hungry 

 were alert, for all had learned that a rumbling noise in the chimney, 

 followed by a sound of "chitter, chitter, chitter," meant something to 

 eat. After resting a moment, the mother would scramble up over the 

 nest, and, with closed eyes, feel about until she came in contact with 

 an open mouth, whereupon she would place her beak far down the 

 throat, deposit a portion of food, then seek another yawning cavity. 

 No system appeared to be observed in the matter of feeding. The 

 hungriest youngsters made the greatest effort to reach the source 

 of supply. 



July I feathers began to appear. They grew rapidly, espe- 

 cially those of wings and tail, and in a week the bodies were about 

 covered. With feathers came employment, for they must often be 

 dressed, though from a habit of yawning frequently, common to the 

 family, one might be led to believe that time hung heavily on their 

 claws. 



The nestlings were two weeks old before the eyes began to open, 

 and nearly three before they were much used. But when they were 

 fully open, and the feathers had grown out and were fast becoming 

 sooty instead of black, how winning these young birds appeared ! 



The time had now come to take up exercises preparatory to fly- 

 ing. The young aspirants would stand in the nest and for a time 

 vibrate the wings rapidly, so rapidly that the identity of wing was 

 lost. Two first ventured from home when nineteen days old, cling- 

 ing to the wall for a short time a few inches from the nest. 



One afternoon about this time there came a severe and prolonged 

 shower. The rain beat into the chimney, reaching down to the nest. 

 What now did I see ? Besides the five grown-up swiftlings, the 

 three adults, packed in and upon -the nest, the rain dripping from 



