2-94 Sketches of Some Common Birds. 



eggs. Some observers report as many as nine eggs in the 

 complement. Their average size is .75 by .53 of an inch. 

 As the nesting season extends through the latter half of 

 May and to the end of June, it is probable that two broods 

 are reared in many instances in this latitude. Though the 

 tree swallows nest in colonies where the circumstances are 

 favorable, isolated pairs are frequently found dwelling in 

 places which are not suitable to colonies. Any scattered, 

 denuded stubs in or near the water along river, lake, or 

 pond, may attract a pair of these birds. Like some other 

 birds we have mentioned — for instance, the crested fly- 

 catcher — the tree swallows in some parts of the country 

 have adapted themselves to the change attendant upon 

 civilization, and nest in the boxes prepared especially for 

 their use. This is the case in some parts of the East, 

 where the earlier settlement has brought about greater 

 changes in the physical conditions of the country. They 

 also construct their homes in recesses of large brick or 

 stone buildings; and Eev. J. H. Langille says that he 

 has seen their nests on the ground under flat stones, and 

 in holes in the ground, elegantly lined with the feathers 

 of the herring gull and of the eider duck, the feathers 

 being so laid that the tips curled upward and nearly con- 

 cealed the eggs. Thomas Mcllwraith, concerning their 

 nesting in boxes in the East, thus writes: "On the ad- 

 vent of the English sparrow, many pairs of swallows 

 were summarily ejected from their boxes, and were 

 obliged to retire to the remote parts of the country, and 

 resume their primitive habits of nesting in trees. On this 

 account they are not so common in towns and villages as 

 they were some years ago, but are more generally dis- 

 tributed throughout the country." 



Through the remainder of the summer the tree swallows 

 continue their habits in the earlier season, though their 

 social disposition and gregarious nature become more ap- 

 parent with the advancement of the season. As the 

 number of individuals is increased by the young broods 

 on the wing, old and young wheel and gyrate above the 

 water, their squeaking and soft twittering being more 

 noticeable from the additional voices. They congregate 

 in larger groups on the bare branches of their favorite 



