I20 Bird -Lore 



more numerous in early September, and many remain, with a few 

 Barn Swallows, into October, but the latter are never conspicuous at 

 this roost. Martms and Bank Swallows are only accidental visitors 

 to this roost. The Whitebreasts remain numerous to the middle of 

 October, and small detachments linger even a week longer. 



Most of the Eaves that have been gathering on the sunflowers 

 before 6 a. m. are still there at 8 a. isi., and the Whitebreasts are also 

 on the lotus yet ; but an hour later, when the sun has heated the 

 marsh and started the winged insects on their aerial mission, the time 

 for activity has arrived, and the meetings are adjourned, the birds 

 dispersed. We, too, will adjourn, with the promise to be back for 

 another meeting in the evening. When migration is well under way, 

 the collecting of the Eaves and Whitebreasts begins early in the 

 evening ; in fact, large droves are met at all hours of the day, play- 

 fully gyrating in the blue heavens above, or describing endless curves 

 upon the glittering marsh beneath. The Roughwings are seldom 

 seen in the marsh in daytime. As soon as they leave the roost at 

 early dawn, they hurry away to their accustomed haunts along the 

 water courses in the timber, where they collect on the branches of a 

 dead tree on the bank, if possible over water. There they sit, soon 

 after daybreak, fifty to one hundred together, silent and lost in medi- 

 tation, patiently awaiting the dissipation of the vapory dimness, the 

 signal for activity. They are greatly attached to these meeting- 

 places, and resort to them often in daytime as well as in the even- 

 ing. Indeed, these gatherings of Roughwings on certain dead trees 

 along our woodland lakes and streams are quite a feature of the 

 landscape from July till October. Often their ranks are considerably 

 swelled by an admixture of other Swallows — oftenest the Bank Swal- 

 lows, who join them on their entomologizing excursions, and find it 

 congenial to spend some time on the same perch with their gentle 

 cousins. 



In fall migration, the different kinds of Swallows like to mix, 

 hunt and rest together, and it is nothing rare to find four or five 

 species sitting side by side. To be sure of a full view of the whole 

 performance, we are in the marsh as early as 5 p. m., and take a 

 stand west of the roost to have a good light, and also to be in a 

 position where we can overlook part of Maple Lake, over which a 

 large number of Swallows take their way. Indeed, we find them 

 already plentiful, and watch their actions. A few dozens are sitting 

 on the plant stalks projecting from the water, mostly Whitebreasts. 

 From the west comes a pretty steady stream of Eaves. When they 

 reach the spot where the Whitebreasts are gathering now, they pause 

 a moment, and, hovering, take a drink, several at once, after which 



