Tree Swallow. 291 



most of the trees have been reduced to mere stubs, some 

 of which are even tottering on their decayed and worm- 

 eaten bases, and where the water stagnates about the bot- 

 tom of the trunks through the most of the season. I^ early 

 every one of such boles or stubs contains one or more de- 

 serted holes made by woodpeckers, and in these cavities 

 the tree swallows make their feathery nests and rear their 

 young in comparative safety. The present name was 

 doubtless given to these swallows because of their habit of 

 nesting in cavities in trees. "The white-bellied swallow," 

 eays Bobert Kidgway, "is an abundant species where 

 there are suitable places for the location of its nests. Some 

 years ago, there were many large dead stumps standing 

 in the water, in a stagnant pond connected with the 

 Wabash Eiver immediately above the dam at the Grand 

 Rapids, near Mount Carmel. This pond consisted of 

 'back water' resulting from the building of the dam, and 

 the dead stumps were presumably the remnants of trees 

 that had been killed by flooding, since they grew so thickly 

 as to leave no doubt of their having once formed part of 

 the adjacent forest. These dead stumps and 'snags ' were 

 perforated by countless woodpecker holes, and in these 

 the white-bellied swallows had their nests, as did also 

 many pairs of Carolina chickadees and prothonotary 

 warblers. The swallows were most numerous, however, 

 there being perhaps more than fifty pairs nesting there. 

 In some old elm trees, with dead tops, growing on the 

 'commons' at Mount Carmel, there were also formerly 

 several pairs nesting." 



In tlie vicinity of Quiver Lake, about two miles north 

 of Havana, Illinois, the writer has spent many agreeable 

 days in the resorts of the tree swallows, watching with in- 

 terest their restless flight, or observing their actions when 

 they would perch for a few moments on the bare limbs at 

 the top of the stubs. Among the dead and decaying 

 stumps they flutter and wheel, either for pleasure or to 

 feed on the insects that swarm near the stagnant water 

 and decayed vegetation. At times one or more individuals 

 will perch on a denuded branch or the top of a stub, per- 

 haps chatterin.g softl}^ sitting uneasily for a few minutes 

 before again launching forth in their aerial excursions. 



