Nesting Habits of the Cliff Swallow 



253 



Rev. Ceo. Roberts, Jr., of Lake Forest, 111., writes that "a colony of Cliff 

 Swallows have for years nested under the inner eaves of the large piazza of a 

 hotel in the Adirondacks, New York state. The hotel is an old structure, 

 painted white. The nesting is of annual occurrence." On inquiry, Mr. Roberts 

 was unable to recall whether or no the eaves against which the nests were 

 plastered were also painted. 



Mrs. J. F. Merrill, of Northwood Narrows, N. H., reports two colonies on 

 painted buildings, one on a white schoolhouse and another on a red barn. 



Althea R. Sherman, of McGregor, Iowa, writes about a barn built seventy 

 years ago on which the Cliff Swallows formerly built three rows deep. The 

 building has been remodeled 

 and painted. Six years ago 

 only five or six nests re- 

 mained, and the last time 

 visited there was but one 

 nest. The species is reported 

 very scarce in that section 

 of Iowa, and its scarcity is 

 attributed to "that mis- 

 creant, the English Spar- 

 row." There is probably 

 much truth in this explana- 

 tion. Personally, I have 

 known the English Sparrow 

 to take possession of the 

 nests of the Cliff Swallows, 

 though not very often. In 

 some parts of the country, 

 however, they may be more 

 troublesome. I used frequently to pass a large colony of Cliff Swallows, the 

 nests of which were built on an unpainted barn near Sioux City, Iowa, where 

 the English Sparrows were abundant. This is a point that will bear further 

 investigation. Who has any information upon it? 



Mrs. Emma P. Farr writes of a small colony of Cliff Swallows nesting last 

 year on a painted ice-house near Union Village, Woonsocket, R. I. "The 

 painting was done with yellow ochre, mixed with oil. The birds have not 

 returned this year, and early in the fall last year's nests had all fallen off." 

 Mrs. Farr asks if nests on unpainted buildings drop as easily. To this query 

 an emphatic negative may be given. 



Mary E. Raker, thirteen years of age, writes an interesting letter from Port- 

 land, Ore., showing keen observational powers in one so young. She reports 

 one nest built against a gray house under the eaves of the gable end. There 

 were a few unoccupied nests from previous years. 



BARN SWALLOW TURNING 



Photographed by A. A. Allen, Ithaca, N. Y. 



